What is the actual justification for not using Russian/Eastern European actors for Chernobyl?
I have not been able to watch this show past the first episode because of this annoying point of contention. Why are all these actors British and why do they all speak in British accents? (Yes, I know that there was an official podcast about this subject, and my opinion is that it was an insanely stupid answer there also).
Am I the only person that is irritated by this? We have one of the greatest tragedies in Russian history told cynically by non-Russians and that’s just ok?
Am I the only person that is irritated by this? We have one of the greatest tragedies in Russian history told cynically by non-Russians and that’s just ok?
Comments
I like the choice to go with British actors personally, because there are many actors in it that I’m a fan of and I’m always happy to watch them in anything. I don’t think it has had a detrimental impact on the gravity of the subject matter at all.
I just don’t understand this choice at all. It’s like if Christopher Nolan had cast a bunch of Americans for Dunkirk.
This is just a wildly stupid decision by everyone involved. I’d be interested in seeing what actual Russian people thought of this.
The show runner decided he didn't want it turn into English speakers doing Boris and Natasha. I think it was the right choice.
Besides in most film and TV the Ancient Roman's have spoken with an English accent so why not the Russians too?
O Captain, My Captain.
Besides - British accent often signals foreign in American productions....
I do get that the reverse of this scenario would be bizarre-- to have a movie made by a Russian production company about Pearl Harbor or some oil spill in the gulf, and the actors are all speaking Russian in their natural accents. Hell, it would be bizarre for a Russian production company to simply make any movie about any American disaster or major event in the US, regardless of the accent or language they use. But I also would understand that the movie/series would be made more for their audience instead of me, and that's ok.
"Realism" is still arbitrated by artists.
I mean, that was stupid too?
I'd assume the reason for not casting Russian actors and having them speak English was the desire to have some well-known actors in the show.
It's a business, not art. I personally wouldn't have minded Russian actors being subtitled but I am an outlier. I turned off the dubbing and put back the original German with subtitles when watching Dark last year (Season 2 coming next month)
This was an American and British project so they are going to make it for the lowest common denominator.
They made the best choice possible and the result is immensely gripping and powerful.
The only way I’ll watch anything about the Chernobyl disaster is if it is done entirely by actors who are descendants of the people who were actually there. Or, actors who were actually there! We can de-age them.
Off the the top of my head, HBO even has a really good movie with Stephen Rea playing a Soviet investigator who’s trying to track down a serial killer.
They have another good movie with Stephen Rea playing the German man accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby.
I remember a movie from the 80s about a couple of East German families crossing the Berlin Wall, played by British actors.
Enemy at the Gates did something interesting where they had all the Soviet WWII soldiers played by Brits and Ed Harris playing a Nazi with his American Accent.
Then there’s Hunt for Red October which is a bit more direct about the fact that it’s “translating” the Russian characters.
Tons more than that though.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Also eagerly looking forward to season 2 of Dark. In German.
https://twitter.com/slavamalamud/status/1132029943297265664?s=21