White savior narrative in space

Rating: 2/10 (12 January 2016)

This is a white savior narrative set in space. If you have been to a movie in the last 25 years you know this story. A white person (usually male but not always) enters a culture of people of color. (any color not just African American.) He then liberates them. There are female variations (The Blind Side). The implication is clear. The person or persons are unable to help themselves without help from the white savior. Here we have Finn who appears to be the only black person in the First Order escaping from the white hegemony. The slavery inference could not be clearer. While it's true that Finn initiates the escape it's Poe who ultimately pilots the tie fighter. After landing on Jakku, he meets Rey. On numerous occasions Rey saves him. When he finally faces off against Kylo Ren it is Rey who once again comes to his rescue. So it's not a pure white savior narrative but it's a variation on it. Other users on here have criticized the films lack of originality and the fact that it is a remake of Episode IV. That is all true but that is the least of the films sins. This is a horribly racist film. Finn is the only black in the movie and while he does fight against the first order, he needs help from Rey and Poe and Han Solo (all white people) to achieve his final liberation. J.J. Abrams is Jewish. I'm not accusing him of being overtly racist and he probably isn't. But this film is another example of the white savior narrative that has become a Hollywood trope over the years. People have praised the film for addressing the (perceived) racial and gender inequality of the original trilogy. But in both the original and the prequels you had strong black portrayals (Lando in the originals and Mace Windu in the prequels) who were also strong characters in positions of authority and leadership. So the original films were much more progressive and far less racist than this film. I don't think you can blame J.J. Abrams but Disney has been criticized over the years for being racist. Probably not intentional but definitely there.