Bradley Cooper, the actor and director of the upcoming biopic ‘Maestro’, has received support from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the children of Leonard Bernstein, the legendary composer and conductor he portrays in the film. Cooper was accused of performing in “Jewface” by some critics, who claimed that his use of a prosthetic nose to resemble Bernstein was antisemitic and insensitive.
What is ‘Jewface’ and why is it offensive?
‘Jewface’ is a term that refers to the stereotypical or inauthentic portrayal of Jewish people by non-Jewish actors, often using exaggerated features such as large or hooked noses, curly hair, or thick accents. The term is derived from ‘blackface’, which is the practice of white actors darkening their skin to play Black characters. Both practices are considered racist and disrespectful, as they reinforce negative stereotypes and erase the diversity and identity of the groups they depict.
‘Jewface’ has a long history in Hollywood, dating back to the early days of cinema when Jewish actors were often denied roles or forced to change their names and appearances to fit into the dominant culture. Some examples of ‘Jewface’ in film include Al Jolson in ‘The Jazz Singer’, Laurence Olivier in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, John Wayne in ‘The Conqueror’, and Elizabeth Taylor in ‘Cleopatra’. More recently, ‘Jewface’ has been criticized in films such as ‘The Passion of the Christ’, ‘Borat’, and ‘Jojo Rabbit’.
How did Bradley Cooper respond to the accusations?
Bradley Cooper, who is not Jewish, has not publicly commented on the controversy surrounding his prosthetic nose in ‘Maestro’. However, he has received backing from the ADL, an international Jewish organization that fights antisemitism and bigotry. The ADL issued a statement on Monday, saying that Cooper’s depiction of Bernstein was not antisemitic, but rather a respectful tribute to the musical icon.
“Throughout history, Jews were often portrayed in antisemitic films and propaganda as evil caricatures with large, hooked noses,” the ADL said. “This film, which is a biopic on the legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein, is not that.”
The ADL also praised Cooper for his “commitment” and “open-hearted joy” in bringing Bernstein’s life and music to the screen.
What did Bernstein’s children say about Cooper’s performance?
Leonard Bernstein, who died in 1990, was one of the most influential composers and conductors of the 20th century. He was best known for writing the music for ‘West Side Story’, as well as for his work with the New York Philharmonic and other orchestras around the world. He was also a vocal advocate for social justice and human rights.
Bernstein’s three children, Jamie, Alexander, and Nina Bernstein, also defended Cooper against what they called “disingenuous” criticism. They said that they were involved in every step of the filmmaking process and that they felt Cooper’s “profound respect” and “love” for their father and mother, Felicia Montealegre, who is played by Carey Mulligan in the film.
“It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts,” they wrote in a statement posted on social media last week. “It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that. We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.”
They added that any complaints about Cooper’s nose were “attempts to bring a successful person down a notch”, which they said they had witnessed many times during their father’s career.
When and where can we watch ‘Maestro’?
‘Maestro’ is Cooper’s second directorial feature, after his acclaimed remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ in 2018. The film focuses on Bernstein’s 25-year marriage to Montealegre, an actress and activist who supported him through his artistic triumphs and personal struggles. The film also features Jeremy Strong as Arthur Laurents, Sam Elliott as Aaron Copland, Justin Bartha as Jerome Robbins, Ron Rifkin as Harry Kraut, Michael Stuhlbarg as Walter Piston, Jake Gyllenhaal as John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious), and Lucas Hedges as Alexander Bernstein.
‘Maestro’ will premiere on September 2 at the Venice Film Festival, where it will compete for the Golden Lion award. It will also be shown at the New York Film Festival on October 2 as the spotlight gala film. The film will have a limited theatrical release starting on November 22 before hitting Netflix on December 20.
