Nate Parker’s ‘The Birth of a Nation’ got a standing ovation at TIFF

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The Birth of a Nation premiered at TIFF this weekend. As you might have seen from the widespread headlines, the film got a standing ovation at its first screening/premiere. Like, that headline was on every site – “Nate Parker gets a standing ovation.” Because rape culture, I suppose. Vulture’s take was to analyze what the standing ovation meant for the film in the wake of Parker’s absolutely bungled public relations and his inability to give an interview about his 17-year-old rape charge without sounding like a sociopath. Interestingly enough, very few outlets are running with the story that Parker shut down a TIFF interview when asked several times about the rape case.

So, in lieu of giving Nate Parker any positive coverage, let’s talk about Gabrielle Union. Gabrielle has a small but significant role in the film, and she’s spent years talking about her rape. More than a week ago, she wrote an op-ed which was basically like “I have many problems with this whole situation but let’s use this moment to talk about consent.” At TIFF, Gabrielle acknowledged that many people probably won’t see the film, and that’s fine. Some assorted comments:

She understands if you don’t want to see it: “I say, for a lot of different reasons this film’s going to be difficult to see for a lot of people, and I get it. There are movies I sit out, so I understand and I’d be a hypocrite to say I don’t. But I would say this movement that this film has inspired includes our issues. That is my sole purpose, and I’ve been by joined by so many advocates and allies on our cast and worldwide who say this is uncomfortable and everything makes me so angry, but I recognize that there is a movement that I want to be a part of, and that movement is education about sexual violence, toxic masculinity, misogyny, rape culture. I want to be a part of that.”

Committing to evolution: “I was firmly committed to not the best projects. Now I can’t go back. Know what I’m saying? When we commit to evolution and when we humble ourselves and realize that we don’t have all the answers, that the things that we’ve firmly rooted ourselves in may not be the right course, that we may not be on the right side of history, it’s okay to be like, ‘I was wrong. Imma step in the right direction.'”

Standing with Colin Kaepernick: “So if you are wondering about Colin Kaepernick and his stand for equality and if he’s on the right side of history, there’s nothing more patriotic than resistance and encouraging resistance! That is the story of the legacy of Nat Turner and that’s why we’re all on this stage.”

[From Vulture & E! News]

Again, I just feel sorry for Union and the rest of the cast. The idea of a rape survivor like Union being forced to interact with Nate Parker in any official capacity makes my skin crawl, so I can only imagine what it’s like for her. Interestingly enough, I was looking through the TIFF photos and Union made sure that she never posed solo with Parker. Part of the reason was that Parker didn’t pose for many photos at the premieres while Union and the rest of the cast did. I can imagine that there were other reasons too.

Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.

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45 Responses to “Nate Parker’s ‘The Birth of a Nation’ got a standing ovation at TIFF”

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  1. Nicole says:

    Union’s comments have been spot on time after time. And while it sucks that I cannot support this movie in any capacity at least she is not shying away from a mantle she didn’t need/want at this time. So I’m happy she’s been honest

    But still won’t be seeing this movie. Sorry

  2. V4Real says:

    Well no one is judging the film, it’s probably great. We’re judging the man behind the film .

    • Hannah says:

      I can’t watch this film, as great as it must be, just like I can’t watch any Woody Allen or Roman Polanski movie, as great as those directors are. Nate Parker is a rapist, he confessed he didn’t thought about consent the night he made a victim and I won’t cheer up for him or any of his jobs.

      • LadyMTL says:

        Same here, I won’t watch it and I don’t care how good it might be. In fact, I think I’m going to try and find a good book about Nat Turner instead. That way I can learn about the history without having to support Nate Parker at all.

      • Merritt says:

        Same. I refuse to watch Allen or Polanski movies. I’m not going to watch this either.

      • Val says:

        ESPECIALLY knowing that there are rape scenes, written and directed by rapists. Vile.

      • V4Real says:

        I probably won’t see it either.

  3. Tara says:

    I’m still so torn about this film. I had really wanted to see it. Then after all of the details came out about Parker’s past, I didn’t. Now, watching Gabrielle Union struggle with this so emotionally, so intelligently and so publically…I think I do want to see it to support her. It angers me so much because NO white actress has ever had to do this. We don’t make them do this when they CHOOSE to work with Polanski or Allen. And OTOH…none of them that do choose to work with those two appear to have the class, the mental ability, or the heart to even attempt to make sense of this the way Gabrielle is now do they? I mean I don’t know, are we making Gabrielle feel like she has to do this, or is it that she is just a much better person and she wants to?

    Either way, I really really want to support her here.

    • Mia4S says:

      She won’t see a cent of additional money from this film or awards attention. If that were to happen it would all go to those men. Wait for Netflix, wait for HBO, then you can see her (I have no doubt very good) work.

    • LAK says:

      Whatever Gabrielle says, watching this film is supporting Nate Parker. Netflix isn’t the answer because again, he will be paid from a Netflix deal. Boycott entirely or make peace with the fact that watching this film, however you choose, will end up supporting Nate Parker’s career as far as numbers (and $$$ /awards) and not Gabriella Union.

      • Soror Bro says:

        Pirate Bay?

      • Down and Out says:

        Don’t you think even pirating it is still a form of support? Not trying to judge you, just curious how people view that. I feel like it is supporting a film, even if not monetarily. Say I pirate this film, love it, rave about it to my friends, cheer for it as it wins awards… I still think that’s a win for Nate Parker.

      • LAK says:

        I do not approve of pirating films. End of.

        If you choose to see this film, even a pirate copy, and rave to your friends, that is support to Nate Parker.

        People who say to wait for Netflix or HBO or freeview or some other way of watching this film will still be supporting Nate because there are deals in place to allow you to view these films in this format. Boycotting straightforward theatre release isn’t enough.

        This is why i’m saying that if you choose to see this film in any version it comes, you have to make peace with your actions of supporting him because all roads lead back to Nate Parker directly or indirectly.

      • Down and Out says:

        @LAK I agree 100%. Sorry, my comment was directed at Soror Bro.

      • SM says:

        I agree. Not watching it on any platform. I know this is an important film and all bit ai just can’t unsee the rapist who basically killed his victim and then went on and wrotw and directed a rape scene for his own gain. And I wish there was some petition boycoting the movie one could sign because they will keep working any PR angle they can to make people watch it ( I mean Parker and the studio and who ever aqcuire the righs for tv showing) and hence anyone investing in this movie from this point in time when we know who Parker is will know that there is a vast group of people who are not seeing this. As far as i am concerned unless someone looses money (not earn money) in this business nothing will change. And it should be made wide and public. I know about this because reading celebitchy is my form of beeaking from work. I doubt many people especially outside US know about this situation all they will know is that there is an important story that needs to be told and seen.

    • als says:

      What you are saying and some other people that have expressed similar opinions is that Gabrielle’s decision to take front stage with that op-ed saved Parker’s movie.
      I am not sure how Gabrielle is helped in this situation. People already know she did an exceptional job, people know the rotten situation she is in. If this movie really does go to the Oscars Nate Parker will still be the real star and the real winner, he already is.

      • LAK says:

        Exactly ALS. Whilst we can all sympathise with Gabrielle, let’s not forget that she’s now the front piece of the film as the new PR strategy instead of problematic Nate Parker.

        BTW, the new strategy has also moved away from holding America to account for past crimes to rape culture which I feel is karma because Nate Parker is going to hear all the ways he did wrong even if he refuses to acknowledge it publicly.

      • littlemissnaughty says:

        I think she had no choice but to embrace it. And I feel absolutely sick to my stomach watching this entire thing unfold. What was she supposed to do? I can’t come up with an answer. Pull out of the press? I’m not sure she was allowed contractually. She is taking a huge sh*t sandwich and she’s trying her damnest to sell it as prime beef, in her own way. You can tell she’s hoping that at the very least she can take this opportunity to make people listen to her but I’m not sure they will continue to listen when this is over.

        I hope to god that some great filmmaker gives her another part and another part and another part and her career takes off.

        Whatever happens, I can’t watch this movie because now his face makes me ragey. Not even because of the money although that’s definitely a huge factor. I can’t watch the Cosby Show anymore either and I already own the DVDs so it wouldn’t benefit BC further.

        What I will do is watch her next movie. And possibly rent some of her previous ones.

      • Sixer says:

        I am just sad, sad, sad, for Gabrielle.

        I was torn for some time between supporting the film for its important story and not supporting it cos Parker.

        In the end, what decided me on the latter is learning that an unrepentant rapist inserted a fictional rape into an historical film in order to get his plot going.

        Can’t get myself around that.

    • Cran says:

      I imagine her mind is roiling through various emotions. She is confronting her own rape, the victims experience & being forced into a public discussion the likes of which she never anticipated. I’m humbled by her ability to get out of bed in the morning with all she must be confronting. She is DEALING with it all and I have much respect for her.

  4. Jessie says:

    Movie might be great. Still not gonna give this guy and his rapist co-writer a dime to watch it, though.

  5. als says:

    Let’s prepare ourselves for Nate Parker – Oscar winner and power-player in Hollywood. He didn’t need consent from a woman when he was in college, a big shot athlete, one can only imagine with this much power rush how much consent will he have on his mind.

  6. Torontoe says:

    They keep playing the clip on the CBC. Nate gives a garbled answer at first, and when then journalist presses on (I actually like Eli Glasner now lol) an unseen handler cuts him off. So much for all his statement about how he is glad to learn about consent, toxic masculinity. I’m disappointed in my city for giving him a standing O

  7. Neelyo says:

    Eh, standing ovations are the norm now, whether they’re warranted or not. On Broadway, people stand up for everything no matter how bad.

    I bet the standing ovation was led by the Fox Searchlight marketing team planted throughout the house.

    • als says:

      True, when I go to theater there are always standing ovations (I guess out of respect for their work, good or bad, we let the critics bring the non-complimentary reviews) but the plays that are not that good get less than others.

  8. Mia4S says:

    The “standing ovation” story is a shrug. It was brief and unsustained in an audience that includes a lot of invited guests and those pre-disposed to want the film to succeed.

    The new reviews are less glowing. Not so great. I’ve heard; over-long, self-indulgent, poor editing. Basically the rebellion doesn’t happen for 90 minutes. Don’t confuse a powerful story with a good movie.

    Lion, Moonlight, Hidden Figures, Loving, countless other better options to support diversity in film (from non-rapists too!).

    • Maire3 says:

      Yes, just attend any one of the other promising movies listed and purchase a 2nd ticket as a gesture for missing this one.

  9. jferber says:

    I don’t see why Donald doesn’t just recruit Nate Parker now as the one black man who supports him for president. It’s a match made in heaven. Deep down they both hate women and are despicable bastards.

  10. TyrantDestroyed says:

    Even if the film is the greatest of the century I am still not giving this rapist duo (Parker and Celestin) any money or time.
    About the actors involved, I feel bad for them but they are very talented and I’m sure we will have the opportunity to see them shine in another movie.

    • Maire3 says:

      Same here. But Hollywood has taught me that it is naive to think Gabby will have so many future chances to shine. IMDb has 2 films in post/completed after BoaN.

      I plan to keep an eye out for the other actors, and, if they appear in a project I want to see, I’ll attend opening weekend & purchase a 2nd ticket because I passed on this one. (This is my game plan for Hidden Figures & a few other movies)

  11. Dani says:

    Honestly, Gabrielle is a class act. I hope this movie does well only because of the actors that took part without knowing the scum that Parker is. They don’t deserve to be punished, especially not a rape survivor like Gabrielle. I’ll watch the movie, in spite of Parker, but in support of all the other wonderful actors in this film.

    • SilverUnicorn says:

      That means you still support Parker and you pay to fatten his pockets.
      All actors get paid before the movie is made, not later. Only A-list actors (plus producers and directors) can earn money after the box office results.
      And as a rape survivor myself I wouldn’t surely care about being ‘punished’ after being paid 😉

  12. Bex says:

    The ‘standing ovation’ is a bit misleading because the audience would’ve been full of people who financed the movie and it seems like literally everything gets an ovation at TIFF anyway. I feel for Gabrielle having to deal with all this.

  13. LAK says:

    The audience was full of studio execs. Not necessarily a good indication of audience support.

    If this film wins the audience award, that will be an entirely different matter and a good indication of public/awards support to come. Higher % of films that win this award at TIFF go on to huge public and critical acclaim and awards.

  14. Hannah says:

    Everything that doesn’t totally suck gets a standing ovation at film festivals. Doesn’t mean a whole lot.

  15. I Choose Me says:

    I really do hope Gabrielle’s career takes off and she can go on to tell other powerful stories. As for this, I will not be watching it. and the fact that it contains a fictional rape scene as plot motivator cinched the NOPE for me.

  16. Patty says:

    I’m not going to lie, I will probably see the film, in large part because larger issues are at play. And I’m a history buff.

    By larger issues I mean Hollywood isn’t as forgiving of certain failures as others. And if the film absolutely bombs, the storyline is not going to be about Parker’s past but will instead turn into another talking point about how films with people of color or films about certain topics just don’t do well. It’s maddening. I’m going to show my support for all of the other people who worked so damn hard on this film and don’t deserve to be written off or have their careers negatively impacted because of Parker.

    I will say though that he has absolutely ruined Beyond The Lights for me. Ugh.

  17. AMAZON says:

    “Her rape” ???????

  18. Pbjellyfish says:

    Watching a rape victim be contractually obligated to promote a movie written, directed and starred in by a rapist, in which her character is raped, is just too tough for me. This is so unfair to her and to his victim.