Believe it or not, we are just mere days away from the release of “Mulan” and perhaps the biggest studio gamble since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down theaters in March. And though the discussion surrounding “Mulan” has revolved around the release strategy (going straight to Disney+ at a premium price), the release of the film also marks yet another milestone for diversity in Hollywood, with the film’s primarily Asian cast. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a bit of controversy regarding the film’s representation, as there are folks that are upset “Mulan” doesn’t have an Chinese person behind the camera.
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In an interview with Film School Rejects, director Niki Caro discusses the criticism of her being selected as the filmmaker behind “Mulan” even though she is not of Asian descent. And according to Caro, she understands the need for more diverse voices in filmmaking both in front of and behind the camera, she doesn’t believe restrictions have to be placed on which storytellers are chosen for a film.
“It’s a very important conversation to be having, and I support it taking place as often as possible,” said Caro. “For me, it comes down to two things. Firstly, I resist the idea that you tell somebody who can tell what story. That sounds a little bit like censorship to me. An artist will express themselves, and the burden of responsibility is on the art. That will be judged — and should be judged.”
She continued, “The other side of it is that more diverse people need to be allowed to tell stories. That’s what it comes down to. The people who are hired for all kinds of stories need to be more diverse. It can’t just be white people being hired to make movies, no matter what the subject matter is. Our culture is going to be richer for the more diversity there is, and the art, the movies, the television, it will be better. The more this conversation is being had, the more that diverse artists are given opportunities.”
It almost goes without saying that Caro’s role as filmmaker on “Mulan” is far from the most egregious example of studios hiring someone that doesn’t quite fit the culture of the story being told. Clearly, we’ve already come a long way from the not-so-distant past where Rupert Sanders directed Scarlett Johansson in an English-language remake of “Ghost in the Shell.” But in the specific case of “Mulan,” given that Disney went far enough to ensure the film had a very distinct Asian filmmaking style, it’s a bit curious why the studio didn’t go for the dozens of filmmakers that have done martial arts-filled historical epics in the past?
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Either way, the early buzz seems pretty good with “Mulan,” so maybe all film fans should worry about now is whether or not Caro delivered a solid film. As mentioned, “Mulan” is arriving on Disney+ (for an additional $30) on September 4.
