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The producer of New Zealand’s upcoming movie about the Christchurch mosque shootings has resigned from the project after criticisms that it sidelined Muslim victims.
The movie ‘They Are Us’ has been facing criticism on the basis of its proposed subject i.e. New Zealand prime minister Ardern, who is slated to be played by Rose Byrne about how she handled the matter.
According to PM Ardern, she was not an appropriate focus for a film about the 2019 mosque attacks. The movie ‘They Are Us’ highlights the weeks after the tragic Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15, 2019, and the weeks that followed.
Read more: New Zealand PM distances herself from film on Christchurch mosque shootings
However, the movie was announced by the Hollywood Reporter and billed as an ‘inspirational story about the young leader’s response to the tragic events’. The film follows Ardern’s response to the massacre and showcases how Kiwis rallied behind her message of compassion and unity.
Ardern, who will be the main protagonist, will be played by Australian actress Rose Byrne. It will be written and directed by and New Zealander Andrew Niccol. It immediately came under fire for centering on the leadership of a white woman against the backdrop of the mass murder of 51 Muslims by a white supremacist. Many Muslim New Zealanders criticised the move as “exploitative”, “insensitive”, and “obscene”. A petition to shut down the film’s production has gained about 60,000 signatures over the past three days.
