Diversity and representation are becoming important topics and prevalent in the film industry, especially with the BIPOC community. In this feature film directional debut by Ildiko Susany called ‘Marley, Someone’, her film takes aim at highlighting the negative Asian stereotypes that often plague the film industry. This feature film debut was screened at the Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift.
The film is about a Eurasian girl named Marly, an aspiring actor livingin Australia, who is often typecast as an Asian sex worker or geisha, with scenes of her showing up in auditions by casting directors who are predominantly white. In the very first few minutes of the audition scene, there were so many lines that contained micro-aggressions of racism to the Asian community.
For example, when Marley is on hold at the audition, the scene shows the casting directors talking about having to “cast only one Asian, and that it does not matter what type of Asian, as long as the person looks Asian enough”. Sound familiar? Any Asian who has been a part of the film industry, may have experienced this type of micro-aggression at some point in their lives, and the shared experiences hold true to this day. This scene made an impactful statement as to why Asian representation and BIPOC casting has become such an important topic. It is a call for change in the way the film industry should think about diversity casting and to educate those who subconsciously make ignorant statements that not only places a BIPOC actor at a disadvantage, but hurting the community as a whole.
Each scene is carefully crafted to show how desensitized people are in the industry to Asians, particularly Asian women with Marly leading the scenes. Ranging from the “kawaii” cutesy look to the Asian sex worker with an accent, Marley encounters several people who made presumptions of the negative Asian stereotypes and is projected onto her. Initially, Marley comes off as a naïve yet independent woman who takes these shots without having to appear offended by these stereotypes. If anything, she may be desensitized to them having experienced it for so long and has accepted that this is the way it is.
One of the biggest shots Marley took was from her Caucasian date, who turned a dinner date into a dose of reality, making dismissive statements to Marley about her image and that she should dress better and to just go with the flow of what the film industry wants if she wants to be successful. He closes off the statement saying that she may not have any self-respect for herself, which could be the reason she is not getting as much work, while he tells her he got casted in a Russell Crowe movie.
While many of these scenes are set up to highlight what needs to be addressed in the film industry, Marley the character is also finding her own identity and self-respect as she navigates through life. Her naïve character was a great approach to help expose the interactions she receives from racism and sexism in conversations, which ultimately helps develop her to a stronger individual towards the end of the story. Her character brings the audience into the feelings of pity of her situation, to cheering her on for standing up for herself.
The film also takes a light-hearted approach with touches of comedic situations just so that the film does not take it too seriously on a very sensitive topic. It provides a fine balance to engage the audience in feelings of uncomfortable laughter, knowing that it really is not funny if they were in Marley’s shoes. This was very well executed without ridiculing the whole theme of Asian representation.
‘Marley, Someone’ is definitely a movie worth watching with many morals behind how important BIPOC and Asian Representation is within the film industry. Gone are the ideas of what a Caucasian thinks an Asian should look like or be a certain character in Hollywood or Australia as there are many Asians around who can contribute and correct these stereotypes if the film industry recognizes that and let them have a voice. Marley takes a stand for herself to knowing ultimately who she is, and no one should ever project their own thoughts and stereotypes of what kind of Asian she should be. It is still a constant battle and journey for BIPOC and Asian Representation, but it looks to be a step in the right direction to educate those that anyone who is non-white are capable to represent more than that they are perceived to be. Kudos to Ildiko Susany for stepping up and making this fantastic movie!
by: Trevor Brooks