Disney magic collides with geopolitical reality (again)
Oh, what a surprise: Snow White, the fairy tale that already had enough problems with poisoned apples and magic mirrors, now runs into a much more earthly obstacle: international politics. Lebanon, in a move no one saw coming (lie, we all saw it coming), banned Disney’s live-action remake because, oh dear, the Evil Queen is played by Israeli actress Gal Gadot. Because, of course, nothing ruins fantasy more than a decades-long war conflict.
The minister who did not want a “happily ever after”
Mr Ahmad Al-Hajjar, Lebanese Interior Minister, decided that his country did not need more drama than it already had and vetoed the film. Reason? The tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which, it seems, are more intense than any poisoning scene in the forest. According to Variety, this is not new: Gadot was already on Lebanon’s blacklist for years. Who would have thought? An Israeli actress, ex-military and openly Zionist, is not welcome in a country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. What a plot twist!
“No Gadot film has ever been released here,” declared a representative of the local distributor, as if announcing the weather forecast. And, in case anyone doubted it, he clarified that Kuwait (another fan of political vetoes) has not banned the film… yet. Patience, these bureaucratic procedures take time.
Meanwhile, Gadot, who in addition to being a superhero on screen was a soldier in real life, continues to defend her country with the same passion with which she persecuted Snow White. In a recent speech, he lamented global anti-Semitism and how some celebrate Hamas attacks. Irony? That an actress who fought against fictional villains now faces very real enemies.
In case anyone believed that this was an isolated case, let us remember that two months ago Lebanon also vetoed Captain America: Brave New World for including another Israeli actress. Conclusion? Disney should consider apolitical casting for its next films… or at least review the geopolitical map before signing contracts.
Are you surprised by this news? Share it and show the world that cinema is never just entertainment. Or, if you prefer to ignore reality, you can always watch the animated version from 1937… that one, at least, only has problems with witches.
