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New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern says Christchurch mosque attacks film 'focuses on wrong subject'

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern says Christchurch mosque attacks film 'focuses on wrong subject'

They Are Us has been criticised for pushing a "white saviour" narrative by focusing on Ardern instead of the victims.
14 Jun, 2021

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern criticised on Monday a planned movie about her response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks as poorly timed and focussed on the wrong subject.

The US-backed film They Are Us has sparked an intense backlash among New Zealand Muslims, with community leaders slamming the project for pushing a “white saviour” narrative.

Ardern said the attacks — when a white supremacist gunman ran amok at two mosques during Friday prayers, killing 51 and seriously injuring another 40 — remained “very raw” for many New Zealanders.

She said filmmakers had not consulted her about the movie, which is set to star Australia's Rose Byrne as the centre-left leader.

“In my view, which is a personal view, it feels very soon and very raw for New Zealand,” Ardern told TVNZ.

“And while there are so many stories that should be told at some point, I don't consider mine to be one of them — they are the community's stories, the families' stories.” One of the movie's producers, Philippa Campbell, quit the project in the wake of Ardern's comments, saying she regretted the shock and hurt it had caused.

“I now agree the events of March 15, 2019, are too raw for film at this time and do not want to be involved with a project that is causing such distress,” she said in a statement.

Ardern won widespread praise for her empathetic and inclusive handling of the attacks, the worst mass shooting in modern New Zealand history, including wearing a scarf when meeting mourners.

The movie's title references a line from a speech she gave in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity when she pledged to support the Muslim community and tighten gun laws.

A petition from the National Islamic Youth Association calling for the production to be shut down has gathered more than 60,000 signatures.

The association said the proposed film “sidelines the victims and survivors and instead centres the response of a white woman”.

It said the Muslim community had not been properly consulted about the project, which has been scripted by New Zealand writer Andrew Niccol.

“Entities and individuals should not seek to commercialise or profit from a tragedy that befell our community, neither should such an atrocity be sensationalised”, association co-chair Haris Murtaza said.

Muslim poet Mohamed Hassan said the filmmakers needed to focus on members of the community that bore the brunt of the attacks, not use them as props in a feel-good story about Ardern.

“You do not get to tell this story. You do not get to turn this into a White Saviour narrative. This is not yours,” he tweeted.

The attacker, Australian self-declared white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, was jailed for life without parole last year, the first time a whole-of-life term has been imposed in New Zealand.

Comments

M. Saeed Jun 14, 2021 01:59pm
She is absolutely right. Any glorification of a crime, is not at all acceptable.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 14, 2021 02:09pm
She is 100 percent right.
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Toni Jun 14, 2021 02:37pm
The quality of this leader "“And while there are so many stories that should be told at some point, I don't consider mine to be one of them — they are the community's stories, the families' stories.” Proud of this being the only decent world leader Ms Ardern,bless you, you are an exception.
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Hamed Jun 14, 2021 03:51pm
She is the only "man in town". Respect lady!
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nk Jun 14, 2021 07:47pm
The leader in the leaders of the world.
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Irfan Huq Jun 14, 2021 08:44pm
If it is a private production how could anyone stop the making of the film. Neither the court nor the government can do it. No one has seen the script. It can only be criticised after it is made or could be censored if it is against the laws of the country.
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hmajid Jun 14, 2021 09:25pm
@Toni -- cant agree more
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Zak Jun 14, 2021 10:55pm
The 3 best prime Ministers in the world, Imran khan, Jucind Arden, Justin Trudeau. Intelligent, learned people with humanity and compassion as their core.
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kautiliya Jun 14, 2021 11:41pm
It is subject in interpretation and therefore in the eyes of the beholder
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Bashir Riaz Jun 15, 2021 04:33am
Usually attacks like these let loose mentally deranged and brainwashed nut jobs who are prepared in specially sanctioned black ops hospitals and released when required, power echelons who feign empathy are usually the ones responsible.
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GK Jun 15, 2021 05:24am
NZ, will do like UK to integrate all.
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GK Jun 15, 2021 05:35am
The Muslim leaders must do the same in other incidents and not do processions supporting terrorists.
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Eartugal Jun 15, 2021 08:10am
@Irfan Huq the same way Eartugal is banned in your country ;)
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ankita Jun 15, 2021 10:15am
@M. Saeed "She is absolutely right. Any glorification of a crime, is not at all acceptable." Sure, now compare this statement to the situation after beheading of the french school teacher, and opinions expressed and acts followed in Pakistan!
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