Despite controversy surrounding recent comments made about a college rape accusation, “The Birth of a Nation” director Nate Parker and his cast will host a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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She also says her own compassion for victims of sexual violence conflicts with taking part in Parker’s film, who admitted he “did not have verbal affirmation”. I took this role because I related to the experience. “My only thought was I’m innocent and everyone needs to know”. Parker was acquitted in a 2001 trial.
He pointed out that at the time of those interviews he was not aware that the woman had committed suicide. That news resurfaced after Parker began promoting his film in the last few months. And what I realized is that I never took a moment to think about the woman.
She said she was using her voice for those victims – who like her character in the movie – remain silent.
A debate over whether the artist can be separated from the art has gripped Hollywood, the black community and women’s groups, while some civil rights leaders have suggested the media was dredging up the rape case to discredit a powerful story about slave resistance.
‘I called a couple of sisters that [I] know that are in the space that talk about the feminist movement and toxic masculinity, and just asked questions, ‘ said Parker. According to Union, the importance of the film does not outweigh the seriousness of the allegations. She notes that Parker’s retelling of the alleged rape doesn’t include affirmative consent, rather it’s focused on hearing a “no”. “Although it’s often hard to read and understand body language, the fact that some individuals interpret the absence of a “no” as a “yes” is problematic at least, criminal at worst”, Union writes. It’s because of that confusion that Union has become an advocate for affirmative consent.
Sexual violence, Union concludes is a “stain that lives on in our psyches”.
“The Birth of a Nation” is scheduled to screen September 9, 10, 11 and 17 at TIFF. Nor does anyone who was not in that room.
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Union ultimately argues that the both the film and the director are an opportunity to have a hard conversation and closely examine the “ingrained misogyny” that has perpetuated sexual violence.
