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| Dumas film sparks race criticism | Dumas film sparks race criticism |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A film about 19th Century French author Alexandre Dumas has sparked a row after a white actor was chosen to portray the novelist, who was of African origin. | A film about 19th Century French author Alexandre Dumas has sparked a row after a white actor was chosen to portray the novelist, who was of African origin. |
| The celebrated but fair-skinned screen star, Gerard Depardieu, had to darken his skin and wear a curly wig to play the part in L'Autre Dumas. | The celebrated but fair-skinned screen star, Gerard Depardieu, had to darken his skin and wear a curly wig to play the part in L'Autre Dumas. |
| Critics argue the French movie industry has deliberately undermined the 19th Century novelist's ethnicity. | Critics argue the French movie industry has deliberately undermined the 19th Century novelist's ethnicity. |
| They say a mixed-race actor should have been chosen to play the national hero. | They say a mixed-race actor should have been chosen to play the national hero. |
| The directors may have France's favourite actor playing France's favourite author, but while Gerard Depardieu is white, Alexandre Dumas was mixed race. | The directors may have France's favourite actor playing France's favourite author, but while Gerard Depardieu is white, Alexandre Dumas was mixed race. |
| The casting of a white man in the new film's title role has sparked a racism row. | |
| 'Shocking and insulting' | 'Shocking and insulting' |
| Patrick Lozes, President of the Council of Black Associations of France, feels that Dumas' African heritage has been deliberately suppressed for the big screen. | Patrick Lozes, President of the Council of Black Associations of France, feels that Dumas' African heritage has been deliberately suppressed for the big screen. |
| "It's very shocking and it is insulting. | "It's very shocking and it is insulting. |
| "It is a way of saying that we don't have any black actor who has the talent to play Alexander Dumas, which of course is not true." | "It is a way of saying that we don't have any black actor who has the talent to play Alexander Dumas, which of course is not true." |
| Dumas was the grandson of a Haitian slave and often referred to himself as a negro. | Dumas was the grandson of a Haitian slave and often referred to himself as a negro. |
| Historian Claude Schopp says although his books were revered by his contemporaries, he was often mocked for his colour. | Historian Claude Schopp says although his books were revered by his contemporaries, he was often mocked for his colour. |
| "In caricatures or in sketches he was always presented with big lips, with Afro hair, as a sort of monster." | "In caricatures or in sketches he was always presented with big lips, with Afro hair, as a sort of monster." |
| The film's directors insist they simply chose an actor who could match Dumas's vibrancy. | The film's directors insist they simply chose an actor who could match Dumas's vibrancy. |
| And although he may not share the author's ethnicity, who better, they say, than the larger-than-life actor Depardieu to portray such a colourful personality? | And although he may not share the author's ethnicity, who better, they say, than the larger-than-life actor Depardieu to portray such a colourful personality? |