A prioriis an innocent romantic film that travels through the scenes of the spectacular Peruvian geography, but, in addition to breaking records on Netflix, Until we meet again has opened a debate on the streets and on the networks about the privileges and representation of white people in the Andean country.
In its first week of release, the first Peruvian film produced by Netflix accumulates more than 12 million views, is in the top 10 in 44 countries and it is the second most viewed non-English language film on the entire platform. In Ecuador it occupies the eighth position of the most watched in films until March 26.
But, in the face of these very positive figures, Until we meet again It has received a barrage of criticism that goes beyond whether it is a good or bad movie. The controversy has gone hand in hand with the image of the country, and, above all, of Peruvians.
“The film is far from the reality that we see and that we live in Peru”Peruvian film critic Renato León tells Efe, referring to the characters and traditions shown in the film.
Directed by the Peruvian director Bruno Ascenzothe protagonist of the film is the actress, also Peruvian, Stephanie Cayoa white, blonde, light-eyed woman who has spent a large part of her career abroad.
“More attention should have been paid to what Peru is and I think that Stephanie Cayo was not the one to represent us, I feel that Peruvian women have a diversity in our physiques,” laments Andrea, a young woman from Lima, in a conversation with Efe.
A country with the race very present
Peru is a country in which race is present in the daily life of millions of people, since it is necessary to indicate it, even in administrative procedures. In addition, the positions of power seem to be dominated by the same skin color.
“That this is the first original Peruvian film on Netflix, in a country where there are clear social differences, and that the protagonists are white, generates controversy and is justified in that regard”, Leon comments.
In the cinema, as in the day-to-day life of the country, the Peruvian producer has chosen a successful white actress and has opened a debate on racism that never ends.
As soon as the trailer was released and it was seen that an actress far from the prototype of a Peruvian woman was the protagonist, the ban was opened.
But The controversy was intensified when Netflix published promotional videos in which Cayo did not know how to explain Peruvian jargon, which angered network users who attacked him because of how far he was from the streets of the country.
business culture
Nor did it go unnoticed by the film’s viewers, it was its very title.since at the beginning of the film it is said that the word goodbye does not exist in Quechua, but instead it says “Tupananchiskama”, which means “until we meet again”.
This data, according to various linguists, is not correct. The word “goodbye” has a Latin origin, referring to the divinity of God, something that did not exist in the Andean culture, but there are other words with the same meaning.
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“I don’t see bad intentions on the part of the film, simply ignorance,” said León, who added another example of “inaccuracy.”
It is a scene in which characters dance to Creole rhythms, which he deems “strange or almost impossible in an imperial city like Cuzco.”
Blockbuster”
Despite the criticism, the high viewing figures show that Until we meet again yes it has liked, and a lot, to another part of the public.
“I didn’t think it was a bad movie, especially because it shows a very beautiful Peru. Now it’s in the top 10 in several countries and that’s the most important thing,” says Gabriela.
In Kennedy Park, located in one of Lima’s wealthy neighborhoods, Maggy, another young Peruvian, explains to Efe that she liked the film.
“It’s very nice, Stephanie Cayo is the best. In fact I find the criticism absurd is having, it is a matter of the tastes of each one. The debate seems silly to me, each one chooses what he wants to see, each one is free, ”she maintains.
“Cinema distorts reality to a greater or lesser extent. Cinema is not always a documentary and therefore a film is not better or worse”, concludes León.
Until we meet again works like an almost advertising brochure that successfully tries to convince the viewer to visit the Andean country and shows a “romantic, cool plot, with nice clichés”, as Andrea -the neighbor from Lima- says, but perhaps she misses the opportunity not to show the reality of Peru, if not to approach it. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
