Spielberg movies too white to be truly groundbreaking
October 19, 2015
“Bridge of Spies,” Steven Spielberg’s latest movie to hit cinemas, has received widespread hype and rave reviews. Allow me to go against the grain — this film fell flat on its face, and here’s why; I watched the film, set during the Cold War and following the story of a lawyer in 1960s New York City, and didn’t see a single person of color. I’m not only talking about lead actors — the background actors and extras were all white, every single one of them. I
was appalled.
There is no question that New York City, particularly Brooklyn, in the 1950s and 60s was extremely diverse. I reluctantly buy that prominent lawyers, politicians and CIA agents in the film, and of course post-World War II Germans, were white. That’s a historical generalization, but an understandable artistic choice. What I don’t buy is that there were no people of color on the streets, in the subways and in the countless public scenes in the movie.
In any piece, every minute detail you present to an audience is a reflection of your artistic and political choices, conscious or otherwise. As a film’s director, you are responsible and accountable for everything seen on-screen, especially those people you choose to put in the film and leave out. The complete absence of color on screen is unacceptable, and shows a lack of detail and accuracy. These are all supposedly the most basic tenets of any artist. I went back and noticed that many films directed by Spielberg, “Jurassic Park,” “Jaws,” the Indiana Jones movies, the Back to the Future movies and “Catch Me If You Can,” to name a few, are disproportionately white.
I’m no filmmaker — let alone an Academy Award-winning director — and I might have missed one black guy in the corner of one of the frames in the film, but from what I saw, Spielberg is guilty of serious underrepresentation of people of color. The problem here is not only one of historical accuracy, but one of equal representation. Having access to significant media representation is necessary for minorities to be seen, especially in places where they realistically should be. It’s 2015, and not only is it now okay to put diversity on screen, but it is now more necessary than ever before. There is no lack of actors of color in the industry, and in “Bridge of Spies,” there certainly was no lack of a place for them. And if it is a filmmaker’s job to tell a story truthfully, faithfully and realistically — and provide employment to actors of all races where they can — then the question emerges whether Spielberg is all that groundbreaking of a director.
Opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
A version of this article appeared in the October 19 print edition. Email Nishad More at [email protected].
Alli • Dec 7, 2015 at 1:31 am
There were few people of color in Hitchcock’s movies- would you say he wasn’t a groundbreaking director? As a major fan of movies and a Spielberg junkie, I really think this article is ridiculous. In my eyes, a film’s worth is not based on the number of PoC or minorities in the cast or background. There have been many poorly-made movies with largely minority casts (just as their have been many outstanding movies with largely minority casts and many poorly made movies with all-white casts). However, this is the film industry, not a diversity forum. A film’s quality and worth should be based on how everything is tied together as well as how it draws the viewers in and keeps them engaged. In this respect, Spielberg is one of the most groundbreaking directors there is.
Clearly the movie’s portrayal of NYC is not accurate. This is a valid complaint. But considering his past repertoire (Back to the Future, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, etc.), it’s going to a lengthy extreme to say that Stephen Spielberg is not a groundbreaking director. A director’s talent and skills shouldn’t be based on how many PoC they include in their films.
Also, I encourage you to not judge Steven Spielberg’s other movies by the same standards that you might judge this one. To say that “Jaws” is disproportionately white is a bit unfair, considering it has such a small cast to begin with.