Key Factors
- Critics mentioned the choice to put on a faux nostril performs as much as Jewish stereotypes.
- Maestro is because of premiere at subsequent month’s Venice Movie Pageant.
- Bernstein died in 1990 however stays one of many best-known composers and conductors of all time.
The household of Leonard Bernstein has defended Bradley Cooper’s controversial resolution to put on a big prosthetic nostril whereas enjoying the Jewish composer in a brand new movie.
Oscar nominee Cooper — who wrote, directed and stars in Maestro — has obtained criticism since a trailer for the upcoming Netflix movie was launched on-line this week.
Critics mentioned the choice to put on a faux nostril performs as much as Jewish stereotypes, and have dubbed it “Jewface,” in reference to the historic “Blackface” apply of non-Black performers darkening their faces for roles.
Others have questioned whether or not non-Jewish actors, like Cooper, ought to even play Jewish roles.
However the late Bernstein’s three youngsters mentioned they have been “completely nice with” Cooper’s resolution “to make use of make-up to amplify his resemblance” to their father.
“It occurs to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a pleasant, massive nostril,” wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein in a press release on social media.
“We’re additionally sure that our dad would have been nice with it as effectively,” they added.
Bernstein, the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants, died in 1990 however stays one of many best-known composers and conductors of all time.
He served as music director of the New York Philharmonic, and wrote the Broadway musical West Aspect Story.
Cooper, a nine-time Oscar nominee, is finest recognized for A Star Is Born and The Hangover movies.
Maestro is a biographical romance about Bernstein and his spouse Felicia Montealegre, who’s performed by Carey Mulligan.
Questions on whether or not actors, notably white performers, ought to play real-life figures from ethnic minorities have lengthy roiled Hollywood.
In recent times, the casting of non-Jewish actors to play Jewish roles has come to the fore.
For example, Helen Mirren drew controversy for portraying former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir on this yr’s Golda.
However the Bernstein household praised Cooper for “the depth of his dedication” to the undertaking.
“It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts,” they wrote.
Maestro is because of premiere at subsequent month’s Venice Movie Pageant.
Cooper has already mentioned he is not going to attend the premiere due to the continued Hollywood strike, which prevents actors from selling their motion pictures.
