‘Appalled’ by mosque attacks movie plans
CHRISTCHURCH: Plans for a movie on the mosque attacks in Christchurch are a travesty, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says.
The film — called They Are Us — which is in the planning stages, will focus on the response by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to the attacks two years ago.
Ms Dalziel said there was incredible respect for the prime minister’s response, but while it was a story, it was not the main story.
‘‘I have to say that I’m absolutely appalled at this sense of entitlement from FilmNation to even think they could be telling a story, let alone this story, which is certainly not the story of what happened here.’’
The city was still reeling from the attacks, she said.
‘‘I’m just so outraged that they even think that this is an appropriate thing to do.
‘‘I’ve read people online saying this is too soon. It’s never going to be right. It’s not a story.’’
She did not know where the movie would be filmed but its crews would not be welcome in Christchurch, she said.
Meanwhile, a petition launched on Friday night seeking to have the project cancelled had been signed by more than 40,000 people by yesterday.
It was set up by the National Islamic Youth Association, which said the project sidelined the victims and survivors and instead centred on the response of a white woman.
It called on the funders, producers and the New Zealand film industry to boycott the film, and urged Ms Ardern to publicly denounce it.
The prime minister released a statement on Saturday, saying the filmmakers did not consult her in any form about their plans. — RNZ