Netflix recently released the trailer for Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a captivating biographical romance that tells the story of Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre. However, some viewers raised concerns about Cooper’s use of a prosthetic nose, accusing it of perpetuating Hollywood’s stereotypical and inauthentic portrayal of Jewish individuals, commonly known as “Jewface.”
In response to this criticism, Bernstein’s children took to his Twitter account to defend Cooper’s decision. They expressed their gratitude for Cooper’s involvement in the project and praised his commitment to portraying their father faithfully. They acknowledged Cooper’s use of makeup to enhance the resemblance and assured everyone that their father would have approved of it as well. They perceived the complaints surrounding this issue as disingenuous attempts to undermine a successful person, a pattern they had witnessed during their father’s lifetime. Overall, they expressed their admiration for Cooper and their excitement for the world to witness his creation.
Last year, Helen Mirren faced a similar controversy when she was cast as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in “Golda.” Maureen Lipman disapproved of the casting, emphasizing the importance of the character’s Jewish identity. Lipman compared this casting choice to Ben Kingsley playing Nelson Mandela, stating that such decisions would not be acceptable. This issue of non-Jewish actors playing famous Jewish figures has arisen in other instances as well, including Kathryn Hahn as Joan Rivers, Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz.
Tracy Ann Oberman shared her perspective on the “Jewface” controversy, acknowledging the demand for actors to portray various characters but also highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the appropriation of roles tied to specific backgrounds. She emphasized the need for equal concern when it comes to Jewish characters whose religious and cultural identity holds significance.
“Maestro” is set to premiere at the 80th Venice Film Festival and will be the spotlight gala film at the New York Film Festival. It will have a limited theatrical release before becoming available on Netflix. Produced by Bradley Cooper, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg, the film delves into Bernstein’s tumultuous marriage to Montealegre. The talented cast includes Maya Hawke, Sam Nivola, and Alexa Swinton as Bernstein’s children, along with Matt Bomer, Sarah Silverman, Gideon Glick, Michael Urie, and Miriam Shor.
Fred Berner, Amy Durning, and Kristie Macosko Krieger are also involved in the film’s production under Sikelia Productions, Amblin Entertainment, Lea Pictures, and Fred Berner Films. Cooper collaborated with Josh Singer on the screenplay.
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