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Posts Tagged ‘Gael Garcia Bernal

romanRoman Polanski is a child rapist, right? He gave drugs and alcohol to a 13-year-old girl, and then molested and raped her vaginally and anally (trigger warning, transcript of court hearings at link).

And yet, even as he raped a little girl, Polanski can’t seem to get enough support from stars everywhere–including a whole slew of the top rung of Hollywood Latin@s. A petition of support of Polanski has been making the rounds the past few days:

On September 16th, 2009, Mr. Charles Rivkin, the US Ambassador to France, received French artists and intellectuals at the embassy. He presented to them the new Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the embassy, Ms Judith Baroody. In perfect French she lauded the Franco-American friendship and recommended the development of cultural relations between our two countries.

If only in the name of this friendship between our two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.

And everyday, more Latin@s are signing on, including:

Pedro Almodovar (Spanish),
Penelope Cruz (Spanish),
Guillermo del Toro,
Gael Garcia Bernal,
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Richard Pena (who is the director of the NY film festival, which VL has promoted)
Harold Alvarado Tenorio

Now, technically, the point *could* be made that the petition is calling for international film festivals to be “neutral” sites that exist outside of legal jurisdictions:

Filmmakers in France, in Europe, in the United States and around the world are dismayed by this decision. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him.

By their extraterritorial nature, film festivals the world over have always permitted works to be shown and for filmmakers to present them freely and safely, even when certain States opposed this.

The arrest of Roman Polanski in a neutral country, where he assumed he could travel without hindrance, undermines this tradition: it opens the way for actions of which no-one can know the effects.

But there are two things that keep me from buying that:

This section:

His arrest follows an American arrest warrant dating from 1978 against the filmmaker, in a case of morals.

and this:

Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians – everyone involved in international filmmaking – want him to know that he has their support and friendship.

Is drugging and raping a 13-year-old child really a case of morals? Does it show the best morals in the world to support and give friendship to a man who drugs and rapes a child? To advocate for that man’s freedom? Is a rapist’s freedom really more important than recognizing the crime of rape? Is friendship with a rapist really more important than standing in solidarity with women and girls (and men and boys) worldwide that are raped, have been raped and/or will be raped?

Do these “stars” have no responsibility at all to the young girls that watch their films?

On a different note, the girl that Polanski raped was also a worker–she was raped by him while on a shoot. Her career was finished the moment she told what happened–why is it more wrong to be arrested for a crime you admitted to committing while at a work party, than it is to be raped by your boss while at work? Why does Polanski have more right to a career than that girl did? Why do the careers of women seem predicated on their ability to keep their mouths shut about the violence and power male colleagues and bosses exert over them?

Do no workers owe their solidarity to a fellow worker who was assaulted and then blacklisted?

What is most disappointing about the list of Latin@ stars is that Gael Garcia Bernal is on it. Coming from a background of radical activism, and having appeared in several movies with leftist politics, I expected more of him.

But when has a belief in radical politics ever made men more inclined to stand against gender based violence?

Violence against women and girls, and sexual violence against children is endemic throughout the world. It is not progressive, radical or liberatory to stand in support of a rapist–it is the norm. It is saying it is ok for child rape to be a normal part of the world.

Latina women and children deserve more, and expect more.
The survivor of Roman Polanski’s assault deserves more.
These “stars” should be ashamed of themselves.

La Macha Has Salma, Mala Has……

6:00 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Movies| New York| mexico · 2 Comments

29 Apr 2009

Don’t think Macha is the only one who can do some objectifying.
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Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna are in New York City to see me. Pero first they had to stop at the Tribeca Film Festival for the U.S. premiere of Rudo y Cursi.

Gael can give me his Mexican flu whenever he wants.

Via / Lossip

Gael Has a Son!

3:32 pm By Maegan La Mala · Celebrities| Chismes · Comments Off

13 Jan 2009

0110_dolores_fonzi_468.jpg_687088226.jpgAfter much speculation, the rumor ended up being true. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal and his consort (girlfriend? no sé…) Dolores Fonzi actually were expecting a child and it’s finally been born:

…Gael García Bernal and his partner, Argentinian actress Dolores Fonzi, became the parents of a boy last Thursday, and according to a statement released by the couple, they’ve named him Lázado. “The three are very happy and tired, and in great health. We appreciate the attention and the respect that has been shown in the welcome given to this new member of planet Earth,” said Icunacury Acosta, the actor’s representative.

Little Lázaro was born in a hospital in Madrid, delivered 20 days late by C-Section.

Via / Hola!

Monday Morning Musica

7:03 am By Maegan La Mala · Movies| Music| mexico · Comments Off

22 Dec 2008

This is a clip from my Mexican boyfriend (even though he won’t admit it publicly and is having a baby with another woman). Gael Garcia Bernal sings his heart out in this clip from the film Rudo y Cursi.

Via / Sound Taste

Mexican (Wet) Dream : Gael & Diego Together Again

9:56 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Movies| mexico · 1 Comment

27 Nov 2007

bernal_luna.jpgWhile Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna have been working together on human rights causes and film production projects, it’s been a moment since we’ve seen this Mexican duo together acting. Well wait no more. They will star in the Carlos Cuaron (little bro to Alfonso who directed them in Y Tu Mama Tambien) flick Rudo y Cursi. The film is about two professional soccer playing brothers.

I can’t wait!

Via / Noche Latina

Image Via / Blog del Cine

Gael García Bernal Becomes Pedro Páramo

12:47 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Books| Movies| mexico · Comments Off

31 Jul 2007

gael_3.jpgHe may not know he’s my man yet, but Mexican actor/producer/ and hottie Gael García Bernal is set to star in the film adaptation of the 1955 Juan Rulfo classic book Pedro Páramo. With a $7.5 million budget, filming is set to start in September in Mexico and Spain.

Add this to your must see film list.

Via / Univision.com

DramaMex Deserves an X

11:22 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Movies| mexico · Comments Off

29 Jul 2007

This Mexican film, released here in the U.S. on July 11th, seems like an interesting interweaving of tales Amores Perros style plus Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna are on board as executive producers. That was enough for me to lay down some cash this weekend to see DramaMex.

Read more…

Gael Garcia Bernal in the Cielo Latino

11:56 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Activism| Celebrities| Events| Health| New York City · Comments Off

26 Apr 2007

gaelosacr.jpgMexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal continues to do good work both on the screen and off. His latest good work is being recognized on May 23 by the Latino Commission on AIDS. Bernal will receive the ILKA award and named as the International Ambassador for the Latino Commission on AIDS 2007 at the annual Cielo Latino benefit to be held at Cipriani Wall Street. Bernal is quoted as saying:

Each person has to fight their own battle to get rid of the silence on our own families. This is a problem that goes way beyond just our families and a problem that every day has more to do with entire nations, populations, and huge numbers of individuals who suffer with this illness. My participation in dealing with this problem is going to be more active to help eradicate the silenceon a much more universal level.

Read more…

Together Again : Gael y Diego

1:30 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Celebrities| Chismes| Movies · Comments Off

30 Jan 2007

diego_gael.jpgThere’s gonna be a swoon fest throughout some Mexican states as talented hotties Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna showcase documentary films. The tour, titled Ambulante 2007, was started by the dynamic duo last year and received critical acclaim for bringing documentaries into commercial theaters.

Story y Image Via / Univision.com

Gael Garcia Bernal is A-Ok with Gay Civil Unions

12:28 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Celebrities| GLBT| mexico · Comments Off

22 Nov 2006

GaelGarciaBernal28.jpgI don’t need too many reasons to love Gael Garcia Bernal. He’s hot. He’s talented and we’ve written about his good politics here before. But just in case you need another reason to love the Mexican actor. Here’s one: he’s GLBT friendly! That’s right, Gael publically put his weight behind Mexico City’s brand spanking new gay civil union law.

Garcia Bernal, actor Diego Luna and director Alfonso Cuaron were among 51 people who published a half-page open letter in local newspapers supporting the law passed this month by local lawmakers.

“The vote for the civil-unions law was a vote in favor of liberty, social equality and the strength of civil society,” the artists wrote.

Via / Perez Hilton y International Herald Tribune


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