There are plenty of film fans that disliked this year’s Best Picture Oscar winner “Green Book.” Sure, it was competently made and well-acted, but many felt that the story being told fell into the category of “white savior” films, where racism is defeated by the assistance of a strong white protagonist. Basically, the message of the film is admirable, but the execution is severely lacking. However, according to one of the film’s producers, if you didn’t like the film or it didn’t resonate with you, then it’s probably because you’re not the target audience.
“Green Book” producer Jonathan King was speaking at a panel recently, where he decided to explain the reason he feels that the film was so controversial, but yet still was able to win awards and become a bit of a box office hit. You see, the film was aimed at older, white people, not young, woke film fans.
“The audience for that kind of movie is largely older and largely white,” said King (via The Wrap). “If you believe that older white people don’t need to be told to be less racist anymore because that’s an issue from the past, look around. Because they do.”
He continued, “Occasionally you need to make a movie that is directed at older white people.”
Of the criticisms lobbed at “Green Book,” with its odd humor, cringe-worthy treatment of racism, and hokey, happy-ever-after ending, none of the chatter is about how old people don’t like the film. In fact, it has been proven that the more age-advanced generation loved director Peter Farrelly’s film, as it cleaned house at the AARP awards. So, if King and the rest of the cast and crew were making a feel-good, anti-racism film aimed at older, white America, then mission accomplished.
The producer also talked about one of the criticisms aimed at “Green Book” — Peter Farrelly. Sure, there were less-than-savory articles about the director, bringing up his past transgressions, but there were also folks that believed that the story presented in “Green Book” shouldn’t have been created through the lens of a white director.
“Are we going to get criticism because the director happens to be a white guy? Maybe,” King responded. “No director would represent the lives and lived experiences of those two main characters because they were coming from completely different points of view.”
Ultimately, there’s no denying that “Green Book” struck a chord with audiences and a large number of critics. So, if what King says is true, then “Green Book” succeeded on all fronts.