Alina Fernandez, daughter of Fidel Castro, now linked to the production of a film about her life.
Alina Fernández Revuelta, daughter of the late leader of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro, once again showed his support for American actor James Franco to embody his father in the new independent film about this figure to be titled Aline from Cuba.
Franco will play Fidel Castro in the film directed by the Spanish Miguel Bardem which will retrace the life of his daughter Alina Fernández.
James Franco, now at the center of a controversy over his next role. Photo. AP
In recent days, several Latin actors and personalities have questioned James Franco’s choicefor not having Latin origins and for having been accused of sexual abuse in recent years.
Alina’s support
Castro’s daughter stressed to American media Deadline her support for the actor to get inside his father’s skin and was proud that “the project is almost entirely Latin, both in front of and behind the camera,” she said.
Fidel Castro and his daughter Alina.
James Franco bears an obvious physical resemblance to Fidel Castro, as well as his skills and charisma, said Fernandez of the Portuguese-born Oscar-nominated actor.
The role, confirmed by the specialized Hollywood press, will mean Franco’s return to the cinema after a series of sex scandals and allegations of abuse that have led him to cancel his projects with major film studios.
The cast
The independently produced film will star actress Ana Villafañe to play the Cuban leader’s daughter, and with Mía Maestro in the role of Natalia Revuelta, his mother.
Mia Maestro, also in the cast of this production about Alina, the daughter of Fidel Castro. Photo: Nestor Sieira.
“Ana Villafañe has an extraordinary talent, and not only as an actress, because she is also a great singer, a very complete interpreter. I’m sure Mia Maestro, an actress I admire, will understand and play Naty, my mother, in a unique way and I can’t wait to see her build her character, “added Fidel’s daughter.
“The rest of the cast will be a wonderful surprise for the entire audience,” continued Fernández, who will be the film’s historical and biographical consultant.
The controversy
“How can this still happen?” Colombian John Leguizamo asked himself in an Instagram post in which he criticized the “appropriation” which, according to him, supposes that an Anglo-Saxon actor plays a Hispanic leader.
Though Leguizamo insisted he “has no problems with Franco”he did not hesitate to call the film a “boycott” because “it is not Latin” and “Hollywood is stealing the narratives of its community.
John Leguizamo, very tough against James Franco. Photo: AP
“It’s bullshit. It’s also hard to tell this story without making it bigger, which would be wrong,” he added.
Salvadoran Ana Navarro-Cárdenas, host of The View, one of the most popular shows on American television, went further, criticizing the simple inclusion of Castro’s character in a film.
“I want to think that no Latin American would want to play and glorify a murderous dictator who has terrorized Cuba for six decades,” he said.
For his part, Jeff Torres, also of Latin origin, stressed the lack of opportunities for actors like him in the industry: “I’m auditioning for any other Latin American drug dealer, and James Franco will play Fidel Castro!”
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Source: Clarin
