I love Taika Waititi. Actually, let’s adjust that. I used to love Taika Waititi. His early movies showed an interesting comedic genius and, as his career got better and better, he was recognised as a great talent, with a wicked sense of humour. I went to all of his early movies: Eagle vs Shark, What We Do in the Shadows, Boy… and let’s face it, they were minor, local movies at the time. They were still really good though.
Now he is a Hollywood director and has just won a BAFTA. Well done Taika. You have done us proud. Did you do what Peter Jackson did and thank just about everyone in New Zealand?
No.
Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit has won a Bafta for best adapted screenplay, with the New Zealand director thanking his mother and making a jab at Britain’s colonial history.
In his acceptance speech Waititi said it was “very cool” to receive the award, “coming from the colonies”.
Okay… it was lovely to receive an award, wasn’t it Taika? Awards are never taken for granted. This award just endorses your ability as a movie maker and director. It is a huge honour.
And wouldn’t it be nice if Taika appreciated that?
Like many award winners, Waititi referenced Britain’s recent departure from the European Union in his acceptance speech.
“We know it’s been a hard week for you guys,” Waititi said. “It’s very nice to take a bit of your gold back home, where it belongs.”
The Guardian.
British gold does not belong in New Zealand. There is no reason to think that. And many British people are struggling with the Brexit decision. Most of us live under governments we didn’t vote for, but those that disagree with Brexit will almost certainly never have the chance to vote this decision out. While I am a Brexit supporter, it is only fair to spare a thought for those who are not happy about the event.
And also to spare a thought for those who wanted Brexit to happen. Many of them are taking some flak too, remember.
Leave it, Taika. As John Key famously said, stick to acting, and in your case directing. You are very good at it, and your particular brand of humour is rapidly becoming very well accepted across the world. But you are, as you say, ‘from the colonies’. Don’t pretend for one second that you have the slightest idea about how Brexit came to pass, or how British people feel about it. It is not funny, however, you feel justified to view it.
Because Brexit was a popular vote. It was the vote of people who felt they had been forgotten; they had been left behind. Their towns and cities had lost their industries and huge numbers of them fell into unemployment and despair. These people expressed their voice through Brexit, just like Americans in the same situation expressed their voice through President Trump. You may not like that, Taika, but you claim to express support for the little guy. Or, at least, you used to.
Britain is going through a major transition right now. One thing they do not need is to have their noses rubbed in it by people like you.