Historical ham causes outrage in Tunisia
The film is still only planned, but it is already causing heated discussions in Tunisia. The fact that black Hollywood star Denzel Washington is to play the lead role in the Netflix production about the former general Hannibal does not sit well with some people here.
Can the African-American Denzel Washington play the Carthaginian general Hannibal? This question is currently being hotly debated in Tunisia. Ancient Carthage was located on the territory of today's North African state. Hannibal is celebrated here like a national hero.
The Tunisian newspaper "La Presse" describes Washington's casting in the upcoming Netflix project as a "historical mistake". An online petition, which according to The Guardian has already been signed by over 1,300 people, calls on the streaming service to cancel the film. At the same time, it is calling on the government to take action "against the attempt to steal our history".
Politician Yassine Mami believes that Culture Minister Hayet Ketat Guermazi has a duty. "It's about defending Tunisian identity and listening to the reactions of civil society," he is quoted as saying by The Guardian.
"It is fiction"
But Hayet Ketat Guermazi is clearly not even thinking of entering the ring against Netflix. On the contrary. "It's fiction. It's their right to do what they want," she said, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. "Hannibal is a historical figure, even if we are all proud that he was Tunisian". The minister is said to be more interested in Netflix filming in Tunisia in order to strengthen the country as a film location.
There is no definitive research on the skin color of the real Hannibal. The Carthaginians are descended from the Phoenicians. The city-states of the Phoenicians were located in the area where today's states of Lebanon, Syria and Israel are situated. During Hannibal's lifetime (around 247 - 183 BC), the area around the Mediterranean was ethnically very mixed.
In the as yet untitled film, Denzel Washington is to play the legendary general who brought the Roman Empire to the brink of defeat in the Punic Wars. The film will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who has already shot the film "Training Day" and the "Equalizer" series with Washington.
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Despite the controversy, the historical film about Hannibal is set to be a Netflix Entertainment production, starring Denzel Washington. Some Tunisian netizens have started a petition to cancel the project, viewing it as an attempt to rewrite their history.
Regardless of the criticism, Tunisia remains an appealing location for Netflix, hoping to utilize movie productions as a means to boost its film industry.
Source: www.ntv.de
