The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has spoken about the controversy surrounding Nate Parker’s slavery drama The Birth of a Nation, saying filmgoers should separate the film from its director’s “personal issue”.
In 1999, the actor, writer and director was accused of rape along with the film’s co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin. Earlier this month, it emerged that the accuser killed herself in 2012. Isaacs says people need to see the film despite the publicity about Parker’s history.
“I know just by the conversation that has gone on at Sundance that it’s clearly a movie that filmgoers should go and see,” Boone Isaacs told TMZ, while also admitting that she’s yet to see it.
Asked about the allegation against Parker, she responded: “That’s one issue, that’s his personal issue. Then there’s the issue of the movie and the important thing is for people to see it and enjoy the film and be impressed by the film.”
Parker was acquitted of the crime but Celestin was charged. In a recent Facebook post, Parker said he was “devastated” by the news of his accuser’s death.
The film premiered at Sundance in January to awards buzz and a record purchase by Fox Searchlight, who bought the film for $17.5 million (Dh64 million). On Wednesday, the American Film Institute cancelled a screening and Q&A for the film and Parker has cancelled all press scheduled for next month’s Toronto film festival.
Earlier this week, the Hollywood Reporter surveyed Academy members on the film and their thoughts on Parker. “Personally, I find it really hard to separate the man from the film when he wrote, directed and starred in it,” said Marcia Nasatir. “Do I want to see a movie from someone who has committed an assault against a woman and who I do not think recognises his guilt? Right now, based on what I’ve read, I would not go to the movie.”