New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the literal focus of that recently announced film about the Christchurch terror attack, has said that any movie about the shootings should focus on the Muslim community, not her.
Last week, it was announced Rose Byrne (Mrs. America) had been cast as the New Zealand Prime Minister in They Are Us. The biographical film will be set during the week following the devastating terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch by a white supremacist on March 15, 2019.
They Are Us is being described as an “inspirational story about the young leader’s response to the tragic events”. New Zealand director Andrew Niccol added that Ardern’s response “is an example of how we should respond when there’s an attack on our fellow human beings.”
The film title comes from Ardern’s speech about the 51 victims of the shootings.
While the movie script was reportedly developed in consultation with some members of the mosques affected, it has also sparked widespread fury from the public, especially the Muslim community in New Zealand, for making them the props in their own story.
During a presser on Monday, Ardern was asked for her thoughts about the film, which she said she wasn’t consulted on.
“This is [a] very raw event for New Zealand and even more so for the community that experienced it,” Ardern answered, as per Reuters.
“I agree that there are stories that at some point should be told from March 15. But they are the stories from our Muslim community so they need to be at the centre of that. I don’t consider mine to be one of the stories that needs to be told,” she said.
More than 63,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org, created by the National Islamic Youth Association, that demands the film be shut down.
“The film centres white voices and therefore will continue to white-wash the horrific violence perpetrated against Muslim communities,” the petition reads.
The petition also said that despite the film’s claims it consulted with the New Zealand Muslim community, many members were unaware of it. Tony Green, who acted as the spokesperson for the Muslim Association of Canterbury after the terrorist attack, said he felt blindsided by the film.
“If you were serious about a movie which was about possibly New Zealand’s worst event domestically, you’d want to know this was grounded in a fairly wide [and] decent coverage of those affected,” he said, per the petition’s statement.
“And at first glance, we’ve all been blindsided by this, that does not appear to have happened.”
Director Andrew Niccol has yet to publicly respond to the backlash, however New Zealand producer Philippa Campbell announced on Monday that she has resigned from the production.
“I’ve listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views,” she said in a statement, per Stuff.
“I now agree that the events of March 15, 2019, are too raw for the film at this time and do not wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress.”
