![]() ![]() Even fans of The Last Jedi will criticize the Canto Bight adventure, which ended in failure and led to few consequential results as far as we are currently aware. Though the idea of one character representing an entire race and appealing to every audience is ludicrous, it is worth considering why this character did not draw viewers to her immediately.Īt least in part, the film is complicit in this lackluster portrayal. In fact, the lack of physical combat prowess makes Rose a rare hero not associated with Asian stereotypes like kung fu. Certainly, she is no classic fighter hero like Princess Leia or Rey, but her mechanic background is not necessarily a negative trait, particular in light of her wits and strength. Tran’s support of Vietnamese designers and make-up artists also demonstrate the ripple effect of making space for people of colour just one big role can act as a launching point for the community.Įven acknowledging Tran’s importance, I must admit that I did not love Rose when I first saw the film. Both actresses have also foregrounded their Vietnamese identities, wearing traditional áo dài to film promotions. Though Veronica Ngo (or as my parents knew her as, the model Ngô Thanh Vân), who played Paige Tico, only had several minutes onscreen, it still meant so much to see an action hero who looked like me. Halfway across the world from Vietnam, in Toronto, leading up to the film’s release, my family talked about how special it was that not one but two Vietnamese actresses would get named roles. As the Huffington Post reported, “Tran is the first woman of colour to play a leading role in a “Star Wars” movie” – and zooming in on both her character and her reception shows us the limits of accepting diversity in Hollywood blockbusters.ĭespite any shortcomings in portrayal, it is still crucial to note the significance of such a casting in the Vietnamese community. Amidst all of the action movies released over the past decade, only one semblance of an Asian hero stands out in my mind: Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) from Star Wars’ latest film, The Last Jedi. In large part, this is due to the lack of source material to work with Marvel comics did not feature many A-list Asian superheroes, therefore any character introduce lacks the advantage of nostalgia that many white heroes automatically come with. The road to Asian superheroes does not look promising. We have never been the heroes in these stories – but with all this talk of diversity in cinema nowadays, is that on the way to changing? This latest Marvel instalment, practically devoid of Asian representation, is just one more example that highlights the rarity of Asian actors in Hollywood, particularly in popular action movies. Though I largely enjoyed my viewing experience, I left with a very familiar sadness that yet again, there was not one person onscreen who looked like me. ![]() ![]() This month, like millions of people across the globe, I eagerly headed to theatres to see Avengers: Infinity War and revel in the film’s kick-ass action and charismatic superheroes. ![]()
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