Accusations of ‘White Saviorism’: Movie made on Jacinda Ardern causes backlash

Plans for a movie on New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s handling of the horrific Christchurch mosque shootings is facing backlash in the country and accusations of ‘white saviorism’.

The reporter revealed that FilmNation Entertainment is bringing ‘They Are Us’ to the Cannes Virtual Market later this month. The film, written and directed by Kiwi filmmaker Andrew Niccol, is set to star Rose Byrne as Ardern and takes place in March 2019, in the days after a deadly terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch by a white supremacist in which 51 people were murdered.

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‘They Are Us’ is being billed as an inspirational story that follows Ardern as she helped rally the government and citizens behind her message of compassion and unity and ban assault rifles in New Zealand.

The film is being produced by Ayman Jamal, Stewart Till, Niccol, and Philippa Campbell. Production will take place in New Zealand. The script was developed in consultation with several members of the mosques affected by the tragedy.