Alina de Cuba: La Hija Rebelde,
a film likely to create controversy due to its politically sensitive subject matter on the Castro family, hit the headlines even before filming began.
The choice of the interpreter playing the role of the Cuban revolutionary indeed poses a problem.
American actor James Franco has been chosen to play the former president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, in the biopic dedicated to his daughter.
This decision divides, in particular, in the Latin American community which feels invisibility by Hollywood.
Colombian-American actor John Leguizamo, star of
Encanto
, denounced this choice on social networks.
“
How is this even possible?
How come Hollywood keeps excluding us and stealing our own stories?
Enough of Hollywood and streamer appropriation.
Boycott.
It's screwed
, he explains.
It's very difficult to tell a story without glorifying it, which is very bad.
I have no problem with James Franco, but he's not Latino.
Actor James Franco is of Portuguese and Swedish descent on his father's side and Russian Jewish on his mother's side.
Alina de Cuba,
directed by Miguel Bardem, will be filmed in Colombia from August 15, 2022. American actress and singer Ana Villafañe will play Alina Fernandez, Castro's daughter, and her mother Natalia Revuelta Clews, will be played by Argentine Mia Maestro.
For Miguel Bardem, James Franco is made to interpret the Cuban revolutionary.
"The director wanted someone who physically resembled Fidel Castro and had his charisma
," producer John Martinez O'Felan told AFP.
John Leguizamo is not the only one to denounce this choice.
Actor Jeff Torres also raised his voice on August 5 on Twitter: "
While I'm
auditioning for yet another Latin drug dealer role, James Franco is going to play Fidel Castro
."
“
Latinos spend their time being had here and everywhere
,” he laments.
Franco's first film since being reported for sexual abuse
However, Fidel Castro's daughter does not share this opinion.
“James Franco has an obvious physical resemblance to Fidel Castro, in addition to his talents and his charisma
, she explained to
Deadline
magazine .
I think the rest of the cast is great.
Ana Villafañe is extraordinarily talented, and not just as an actress.
She is also a great singer, a very complete interpreter.
I'm sure Mía Maestro, an actress I look up to, will understand and portray Naty, my mother, in a unique way and I can't wait to see her build her character."
For her, the main thing is that the conversations around Cuba continue to exist.
“Personally, the initiative is so unexpected, but above all,
she told the magazine.
Alina de Cuba
will be one of the first films directed by James Franco since being reported for sexual harassment in 2018. After winning the Golden Globes for best actor in a musical or comedy film in 2018, James Franco was accused by four former students from her school for abusing them during nude scenes.
The actor had admitted, last December, to having had sexual relations with some of his students.
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