Culture Mary Mata August 16, 2011

Controversy Surrounds “Colombiana” Film For Stereotyping

Some colombianos are a bit upset about the upcoming Zoe Saldaña film “Colombiana” for portraying Latinos in a negative light, according to Univisión:

Members of the non-profit group PorColombia, among other Colombian Americans, have taken to Twitter and Facebook to start a grassroots campaign against the stereotypes and lack of Colombian substance they say the film portrays.

“We’re very disappointed that Hollywood is using the Colombian armed conflict again as cheap propaganda for its profit, it shows its total lack of creativity,” said Carlos Macias, the group’s president. PorColombia, which aims to improve the perception of Colombia in the US, is made up of 12 college chapters in the US and Canada.

As part of their #ColombiaIsBeautiful campaign on social media, the group has been circulating an “improved” version of the Colombiana poster, in which the tagline “Vengeance is Beautiful” is crossed out in favor of “Colombia is Beautiful.” Saldana’s gun has been photoshopped over with flowers.

Myself and a few others participated in this Twitter conversation this afternoon and the gist of it was that, first we want to see the film, then judge. Secondly, and perhaps this comes after decades of seeing Mexicans portrayed as maids and drug dealers and gang members, it doesn’t seem as bad as other stereotypes. What about the movie “Machete”? Why does Saldaña have to speak for all Latinos, she’s not even Colombian, when Angelina Jolie didn’t speak for all white women when she made “Salt”?

Check out the convo below:

 

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