Somehow in a film meant to be a commentary on colonialism and exploitation in the Middle East, there is zero inclusion of Middle Eastern perspectives on-screen or off. Filmmaker Lexi Alexander tweeted, “A film about Middle East culture, shot in the Middle East, without a single Middle Eastern actor insight. The author of the book behind the movie deliberately drew from Middle Eastern culture as inspiration for many aspects of his book, but especially the Fremen people. Despite all of this conceptual representation and obvious Middle Eastern roots, there is no representation of actors of Middle Eastern or North African descent. “You don’t cast MENA (Middle Eastern, North African) or Muslim actors, yet you profit off their culture,” she said.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 09, 2021 09:01 UTC