USA TODAY International Edition
Parker avoids personal questions in Toronto
Personal questions TORONTO about past rape allegations were bound to come up when Nate Parker faced the media Sunday for The Birth of a Nation. His strategy: to deflect them and keep the focus on his film.
The 70- minute news conference for the movie was packed with journalists wondering how Parker would face the scrutiny.
In the end, Parker said he didn’t want to “hijack” the news conference.
Birth of a Nation follows the rise of slave- turned- preacher Nat Turner, and the drama was predicted to be a front- runner in the Oscar best picture race after its stunning debut at Sundance Film Festival in January and subsequent sale to Fox Searchlight for a record $ 17.5 million.
That changed in mid- August, when the film became clouded with revelations that director/ star Nate Parker and co- screenwriter Jean Celestin were tried for rape in college more than 15 years ago. Parker was acquitted; Celestin was convicted, but the charge was later overturned. The victim committed suicide in 2012.
On Sunday, Parker was asked why he had never apologized to the victim or her family, and if he would now.
“I’ve addressed this a few times,” said Parker. He added that the news conference “is a forum for the film and for the other people sitting on this stage. I do not own it. It is not mine. So I don’t want to hijack this with my personal life.”
Throughout, Parker’s cast united to make the case for why those troubled by their director’s past should still see the film.
“To anyone thinking of staying home, bring your apprehensions with you to the theater,” Aunjanue Ellis said.
Co- star Gabrielle Union took a question on how Birth of a Nation would make more of an impact than previous films focused on slavery. “I’ve never heard anyone say there are too many Holocaust films. There can never be enough Holocaust films,” she said. “There can never be enough stories about slavery. ... Oppression is everyone’s problem.” Parker also was asked if he still planned a promotional tour across college campuses for the film, and if he would raise issues about sexual assault.
“From what I understand, we’re still moving forward with everything,” he said.
On Friday, Toronto audiences welcomed Birth of a Nation with a two- minute standing ovation.