June 12, 2021: Tentative plans for a film about New Zealand’s mosque attacks in 2019 have been widely criticized. The film, which chronicles Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s response to the killing of a Muslim worshiper at gunpoint, criticizes the idea of not paying attention to the victims of the attacks.
Hollywood news outlet Deadline has reported that Australian actor Rose Byrne will play Arden in the movie. The film will be made in the days following the 2019 attacks in which 51 people were killed in two mosques in Christchurch. New Zealand’s Andrew Nicole is reportedly in the process of writing and directing the project. Previous screenplays include Getaway, The Terminal and the Oscar-nominated film The Truman Show.
Deadline reported that They Are Us would follow Ardern’s response to the attacks and how people rallied behind her message of compassion and unity, and her successful call to ban the deadliest types of semiautomatic weapons.
The film manages to entertain as well as inform. It details what happened later in an important speech after the attack. At the time, Arden’s response was praised around the world. Even so, many in New Zealand are raising concerns about the project.
Aya Al-Umari, whose older brother Hussein was killed in the attacks, wrote on Twitter: “Yeah nah.”
Abdigani Ali, a spokesperson for the Muslim Association of Canterbury, said the community recognised the story of the attacks needed to be told, but added: “We would want to ensure that it’s done in appropriate, authentic, and sensitive matter.” Tina Ngata, an author and advocate, tweeted that the killing of Muslim people should not be the backdrop for a film about “white woman strength”, writing: “COME ON.”
Ardern’s office said in a brief statement that the prime minister and her government have no involvement with the movie.
Stay tuned to BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!
