Elmina

Elmina is a West African film, released in 2010, about a Ghanaian farmer "fighting corruption and the exploitation of the community by a Chinese multinational corporation."

What makes the movie odd is that the lead role of the farmer, in an otherwise all Ghanaian cast, is played by artist Doug Fishbone who's a self-described "white Jewish man from New York." Furthermore, no one in the movie ever makes note of the fact that he's white and everyone else is black.

Fishbone notes on his website: "No reference is ever made to this oddity of casting, which in a quietly radical way completely overturns conventions of race and representation in film, and offers a new perspective on globalization, neo-colonialism, Eastern influence in Africa, and the relativity of audience engagement."




Doug Fishbone: Elmina (2010) Film Trailer from Doug Fishbone on Vimeo.

     Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 06, 2020
     Category: Art | Movies





Comments
So, this sounds like Othello in reverse as far as casting goes. I've seen Othello on stage twice and each time there was a fair-skinned Anglo playing the role. Apparently someone didn't get the message about the Moors.
Posted by KDP on 10/06/20 at 04:44 PM
The white guy in traditional African garb trying to speak like an African in a sea of African people! Lol!
Posted by Yudith on 10/09/20 at 05:43 AM
I mean... I sing opera. As a complete amateur, but still. And if Jessye Norman can sing Turandot, why should I care about skin colour in casting?

(OK, I'll grant you, in Othello it would be a problem. But Othello is an exception.)
Posted by Richard Bos on 10/10/20 at 11:27 AM
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