OlderKristin Kreuk in Partition
Partition Synopsis :: Determined to leave the ravages of war behind, 38 year old Gian Singh (Jimi Mistry) resigns from the British Indian Army to a quiet life. His world is soon thrown in turmoil, when he suddenly finds himself responsible for the life of a 17 year old girl, traumatized by the events that separated her from her family. Slowly, resisting all the taboos, Gian finds himself falling in love with the vulnerable Naseem (Kristin Kreuk) and she shyly responds. In a moving and epic story, woven into a rich and exotic tapestry, they battle the forces that haunt their innocent love, fighting the odds to survive in a world surrounded by hate.
23-year-old actress Kristin Kreuk, who plays Lana Lang on Smallville, is set to play a 17-year-old Muslim girl named Naseem Khan in Partition, a film about the division between Pakistan and India. Neve Campbell, 32, also stars in this film and will play the passionate but lonely Margaret Stilwell, a woman who helps Gian Singh. More pictures in the gallery! ¶ I haven’t been too impressed with Kristin’s acting in Smallville but I’m cautiously optimistic about her role in Partition (Release Date :: Tentative Spring 2006). Watch the trailer below and share your thoughts. Do you think Kristin Kruek has the looks and the acting chops to pull off a Muslim Pakistani girl? Do you believe Kristin and Neve’s accents?
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Dear "Duh!"- you are avoiding the obvious, which is that this girl is NOT white, as I said. I prefer to see parts as parts, and not as parts for pakistani, parts for greeks, parts for canadians, parts for whatever. A pakistani girl should have the ability and opportunity to play any other part, provided it is not a part without a requirement for specific characteristics. I do not care if I watch a movie starring a specific nationality or not, because that is not what movies are about. In my opinion, a good pakistani actress should be casted in any movie, regardless of colour. As long as the actors are good and not *completely* irrelevant to what they’re portraying, then I think it’s silly discrimination to say that Kreuk shouldn’t have this part because she’s not actually pakistani. Would you have the same problem with the casting as you seem to have if a pakistani or an indian actress was cast in a part that has been given to a white actress? Would you also say the same things if Parminder Nagra was cast in a Meg Ryan movie instead of Meg Ryan? Would you say "couldn’t they find a nice white girl to play this part?" I don’t think so. Personally, it wouldn’t cross my mind to say "oh look! She’s indian!" She would be just another actress in another movie. In answer to your question, yes, I think that any actress should have a shot at getting the Reese Witherspoon parts and I do not see anything wrong with that, as long as the theme of the movie allows it. As long as Kreuk does justice to the part and doesn’t end up ridiculing it, I don’t see much wrong with this…I hope I’m relaying what I’m trying to say here…
The point is an ethnic actress trying to get into a traditionally "White film" is reactive.White actresses already have acess to most parts in film. Period. What we need is a system that tries to make amends to get ethnic actresses working.If Reese gets the part of an Indian, it would not be fair. Reese already gets unlimited roles - why not leave roles to ethnic actresses? At least they could be GUARANTEED the ethnic roles.So to compare the two is unfair. It is not the same.A White actress can always work. An Indian or Pakistani actress cannot. I have a girlfriend who was a former model and has been trying to make it in Hollywood (she is Pakistani) and she gets NO roles - not even a TV commercial.When was the last time you saw an Indian actress selling Verizon phones in a commercial? Or playing the lead opposite Mathew McCoughnohey? Or cast as a recurring role in Friends?My friend and her ethnic friends were all turned down for all the above roles. It is a fact. Hollywood is not interested in ethnic actresses for these roles.So when a role comes along and it is given to an actress, who eventhough biracial, can have access to other roles, it is unfair.I personally think a film is more authentic when an actor is from that culture. For example, an English actress doing Jane Austen is not the same as Gwyneth Paltrow (even though good in Emma) doing it. There are nuances that only an actress well versed in that culture can understand.There are always exceptions but for the most part, I find actors from those cultures do better at the role - my opinion.ALso, the Memoirs of A Geisha example is a good one. There are brilliant Japansese actresses. yes, Zhang Yii and Michelle Yeoh were good in the film. But what sense does it make to not have ONE actress from Japan as one of the leads in that film?What sense does that make? What is the justification for that?It has nothing to do with the best actors for the roles. Those actresses were chosen because they were huge hits in Crouching Tiger and the producers felt American audiences could identify with their faces. Of course, what happened is the film did not do as well as expected and was a critical bomb. So waht was it worth in the end? Why not at least one JAPANESE actress?If you think Hollywood or any film industry is making these choices to pick the best actor - you are so wrong. They pick the most marketable faces not the best actor. Zhang Yii is not the best Chinese actress even - she is the most recognizable one for White people.This is, I believe, an important debate to have though regardless of what side of the argument you are on.
My girlfriend who is a Chinese actress from mainland China always complains about Zhang. My girlfriend is a very ethnic looking Chinese girl. Zhang is very fair with "European" accepted features. She gets more roles because of that too. Same with Gong Li - the great Chinese actress. She is mor ethnic looking than Zhang and does not get as many roles. This is all marketing ploy based on really racist ideals of what is acceptable to White people.Halle Berry, half White and half Black, being the #1 Black actress is NO coincidence. There are better, darker, more Afrocentric actresses. They won’t get the work though. They are told they are too dark or too something or not sexy enough. Another Hollywood fact. I hope you all understand these casting choices are not as innocent as you may want to believe. I have friends who work in the business. Trust me, it’s not pretty.
I personally don’t see anything wrong with Kristin playing this part, she looks the part and she is a really great actress. I mean who cares if she really isn’t Pakistanian, she isn’t american either and she plays the role of one. Why aren’t you complaining about that while you are at it. I know what you are saying about Pakistanians not getting the roles, and that sucks I completely agree with you. But I would guarantee that any of those Pakistanians would play the role of a character that is not their culture, they would not turn down a role in a movie that someone the right race or culture could play. I can guarantee that they would not refuse the part because they might be taking away an acting job from an actress or actor of the right culture. Why should Kristin be expected to do the same.
Kristin is not the problem. The industry and advertisers are the problem. Fim industries around the world know White people have the highest spending power and they cast to satisfy that economic base. They don’t care about authenticity - just about dollars. It is all well calculated. Kristin is just the pawn in a business that is less about show and more about BUSINESS.Again, a Pakistani taking a role designed for a White actress would be doing it to work since she has no access to other work. A White actress has access to a diverse amount of roles. You cannot compare the two. White actors work more than non - White actors - it’s a fact.
I don’t complain about Kristin playing an American because the American culture is not a marginalized one. It will not suffer because non-Americans are playing Americans. Pakistani culture can suffer when non-Pakistanis play Pakistanis. In this post 9/11 environment where already Pakistanis are seen as the EVIL Muslims, it is time to allow Pakistanis to show us the beauty of their culture. And a film that is about the inception of such a fascinating state! It’s unfortunate.The Pakistani film industry is a very good one though and I think it is a matter of time that one of the really talented Pakistani directors will direct the story of the creation of Pakistan and will do it without Neve Campbell and the actresses of the WB. I bet that versions will be the official Pakistani entry to the Academy Awards for best foreign film. And I hope it wins….One day…
I agree, they think people will see this film because this girl was in Smallville and because of Neve. Both crappy actresses. Why not film actresses instead of dumb TV stars for a serious topic like this?
Would you guys rather have just Pakistanis and Indians watching this movie?Because fact is if Kristin wasn’t in this movie a lot us here could gave two flying sh*t about this movie (justjared wouldn’t had post this blog either) because we would have either known NOTHING about it or would had zero interest in watching the movie to begin with!Casting only Indian/Pakistani actress to this movie would have left this movie only open to Pakistanis and Indians and maybe a few others that by chance caught buzz about the movie somehow… just every other movie bashed on the Partition with the casting of only Pakistanis and Indians actor and actresses. And really what’s the point in telling a story about a period of time such as the Partition to a group of people who already know it?Last time I ever heard anything about the Partition was during high school world history…Now at 22 with this movie it’s going to stick… but if you rather keep it in the family then fine… but don’t complain saying such things such as how us Americans only think of Pakistanis as evil people, but then turn around and complain about a casting for a movie that’ll educate others because the casting is mostly geared to American/Canadians.If this movie would was cast by all Indians/Pakistanis I wouldn’t be here talking about it, because I care as much about the Partition as much you do about the Spanish American War.
#58 Arelis: FINALLY! Someone who is honest. THANK YOU! My point exactly. White people only like to watch other White people.Of course, Crouching Tiger was a huge hit with all Chinese actors - so I don’t know how you justify that. I assume it would of made even more money if Britney Spears was cast as the thief. I want to see the next Civil War flick cast properly. Tom Cruise as a slavelowner who channels L. Ron Hubbard. And Gwyneth Paltrow as his Black slave. That would be hot!I love being White. All the options we have…..
And in brokeback Mountain 2: Barbara Bush and Janet Reno as the two gay male cowboys. Ennis (Babs Bush) finds out his lover is alive and well and…oh you kow the rest….frolick frolick on Gayback Mountain….
Just face it, the only reason Kristin got this role is because she’s a (marginally) recognizable face. I’m sure there were better actresses who could pull of the accent far better and matched the role’s ethnicity better (I’m not saying they’d have to be pakistani necessarily, but this chick isn’t even close…) but of course none of them are going to get the part because they are nobodys… I don’t really have a problem with a person of ambiguous ethnicity being able to play various roles… The thing I have a problem with is that the girl is ridiculous in the role. And to reiterate, I’m sorry but even this short trailer can’t hide the fact that her accent is more phony than Apu’s (from the Simpsons..)
#59 I’m not white though, if anything I look more Pakistani/Indian than white … and the reason Crouching Tiger did so well was because it was the first in a lot ways to do the effects it did, not because of the story.You don’t need a real good plotline nowadays for a movie to do well in the box office, as long as you have a lot FX you’ll draw people in…
Erica, the only people I’ve continue to see bash Kristin’s acting in that trailer are those who dislike the girl because of her role as Lana Lang on Smallville.I remember in the Partition forum on IMDB some girl was trashing Kristin’s acting and swearing how she would be the down fall of the movie… come later, she admits she doesn’t like Lana and starts swearing up and down that Kristin’s role is being cut short because the actress who plays Lois Lane is a better actress.That’s as bias as it comes!Do you by any chance watch Smallville? ;-) Because I swear I’m finding a trend in all these "this girl is ridiculous in the role" comments.It’s funny how this blog started off with everyone praising Kristin’s casting, now by the end of this comment box from the wood works people are coming out with nothing but not so very nice things to say about Kristin as an actress.
Arelis, Kristin an actress? Come on. Seriously. Come on. the girl can’t act he way out of a paper bag. neve Campbell sucks too! Now are you saying, movies only do well because White people are in them? Ok, you’re an idiot. Seriously, what is your purpose here? Yousound like a complete idiot.
Yes, Kristin is an actress. The character she’s been playing for the last five years is poorly written. People can’t just judge her based on the character of Lana Lang. Whenever she’s allowed to break character like when she becomes Isobel (possessed witch) or a junkie…I think she excels.
just like America, Pakistan is an ethnically diverse country. In the northern tribal areas, you have people with caucasian features, even colored hair and colored eyes. In Balochistan and the Areas near China, you have people with Asian features.. Sindhis and Punjabis look more North Indian/"Middle Eastern"… no big deal that Kristin is playing a Pakistani girl. maybe its cuz she lived in Vancit
just like America, Pakistan is an ethnically diverse country. In the northern tribal areas, you have people with caucasian features, even colored hair and colored eyes. In Balochistan and the Areas near China, you have people with Asian features.. Sindhis and Punjabis look more North Indian/"Middle Eastern"… no big deal that Kristin is playing a Pakistani girl. maybe its cuz she lived in Vancit
# 64, the only idiot here seems to be you. I never said movies only do well because white people are in them.
i wonder if she’ll have an accent in this movie (and if she can pull it off?)
They haven’t done justice with Pakistani side of the story and they should have done some research on both religions, especially Islam, before going on with the story……And sex scene should have been omitted!This movie needs corrections…:-l
WELL it`z really nice to heared abt Kristin Kreuk that`z she`z PAKISTANI …. she can do alot for pakistan .. n she should do …. !!!
Who cares if a non Pakistani is playing the role? And a lot of Pakistanis have diverse looks depending on what area they come from. Kristen’s look is common in some areas of Gilgit and Kashmir and amongst the Pathans. And with the northern areas of Kashmir and other Northern Pakistanis they look completely Caucasian some of them. Pakistanis and Indians are not all just brown skinned black haired dark eyed people. There’s a lot of diversity there.for example the Kalash people in Pakistan http://static.flickr.com/56/140438305_c6731e3bd9_o.jpg
Who cares if a non Pakistani is playing the role? And a lot of Pakistanis have diverse looks depending on what area they come from. Kristen’s look is common in some areas of Gilgit and Kashmir and amongst the Pathans. And with the northern areas of Kashmir and other Northern Pakistanis they look completely Caucasian some of them. Pakistanis and Indians are not all just brown skinned black haired dark eyed people. There’s a lot of diversity there.for example the Kalash people in Pakistan http://static.flickr.com/56/140438305_c6731e3bd9_o.jpg
Who cares if a non Pakistani is playing the role? And a lot of Pakistanis have diverse looks depending on what area they come from. Kristen’s look is common in some areas of Gilgit and Kashmir and amongst the Pathans. And with the northern areas of Kashmir and other Northern Pakistanis they look completely Caucasian some of them. Pakistanis and Indians are not all just brown skinned black haired dark eyed people. There’s a lot of diversity there.for example the Kalash people in Pakistan http://static.flickr.com/56/140438305_c6731e3bd9_o.jpg
What are you guys on about?There are many pakistani girls who look like that,Pakistan has girls from dark as night to white as snow complexion.
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