Marina Orsini and Roy Dupuis share the same outrage: the withdrawal of an episode daughters of Caleb from Netflix makes “no sense”. “Honestly, I think that’s ridiculous, I don’t agree,” said the interpreter of the legendary Émilie Bordeleau.
• Also read: Netflix: Episode withdrawn due to blackface
• Also read: “Les Filles de Caleb” makes its debut on online listening platforms
There are only 19 episodes of 20 of the series Caleb’s Daughters on Netflix. The series, which originally aired almost 40 years ago, was cut from its second episode by the streaming service. This is because we see Ovila Pronovost with her face painted black to play the role of a wise man in a Christmas show.
Screenshot, Netflix
Roy Dupuis’ black face in the censored episode.
For the interpreters of Émilie and Ovila, wanting to erase history in this way is a mistake on several levels.
“I was very surprised,” Marina Orsini told the Journal. I think we scratch to scratch. Without in any way the times, the beliefs, the ways of doing things, the lack of judgment, whatever would deny all of that, I think they can put it all in context. After all, 32 years have passed and we are talking about a story that first tells our story at the end of the 19th century. »
The 55-year-old actress takes a rather positive view of this scene, in which young people of the time portrayed the Magi in their ethnic differences, at a time when performances were not multiple. She believes a warning notice could have been placed at the beginning of the episode to warn more sensitive people.
That’s what ICI TOU.TV did, which also broadcasts Les filles de Caleb online. “This program is provided as originally prepared and may contain various contemporary social and cultural portrayals,” it reads.
“When it’s time to be outraged and uplifted, I’m all for it,” the actress added. But there I find that there are bibites to look for. »
Stories that evolve
“The Daughters of Caleb series is a great story, it’s Arlette’s novel [Cousture] and an important story for our Quebec society,” said Roy Dupuis. It presents a unique portrait, a beautiful portrait of our history; and this time is part of it. In addition, it is stories like this that have allowed us to evolve socially. It describes us as we were and so we move on. »
The 59-year-old actor believes in being fair with our story. He also sees this censorship by Netflix as a lack of respect for the work of the actors.
The same goes for Les Filles de Caleb author Arlette Cousture, who was surprised and shocked and said she felt powerless in the face of this situation.
“If we can’t reflect an era, then we’re not a good writer,” said the 75-year-old author, who published the saga in 1986. I reflected the epoch! We don’t change, we don’t touch history! It’s a lack of judgement. I can not believe it ! ‘ she denounced.