Concentrated star power, two Oscars and three additional nominations – it’s actually blockbuster fodder from the highest Hollywood shelf that Kabel 1 is offering in its TV program this evening (Monday, November 11th).
But at the same time, a film is shown here at prime time at 8:15 p.m. that, due to its subject matter, is not easy for everyone to bear. Both for the audience, but also for the participants themselves. One Hollywood star had particularly big problems with the racist views of his villain character.
Tonight on TV: Kabel 1 is showing Tarantino film
Quentin Tarantino is not known for being particularly reserved in his films. He rarely has moral concerns when it comes to depictions of violence or vulgar dialogue. However, no one really blames him for this – because as a talented director and screenwriter, he always combines these elements with clever stories and strong characters with great recognition value. Whether “Pulp Fiction”, “Kill Bill”, or “Inglourious Basterds” – critics and viewers alike celebrate Tarantino for his unmistakable style.
The same is true with “Django Unchained,” which opened in cinemas in Germany in January 2013 – and is Tarantino’s most successful film to date, grossing almost $450 million at the box office. The Western, based on the 1966 Franco Nero classic “Django,” tells the story of a freed slave who sets out with a German bounty hunter to rescue his wife from the clutches of an unscrupulous plantation owner.
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Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio – Tarantino assembled a top-class ensemble in front of the camera for “Django Unchained”. But the very experienced DiCaprio – who injured himself on broken glass during filming and still finished his scene – found it more than difficult with his role as the racist slave owner Calvin Candie.
Villain role too racist for DiCaprio
“Django Unchained” holds the record for the most use of the N-word in a film. In the 165 minutes it is used more than 110 times – and it is often DiCaprio’s Candie who uses it to talk about his slaves, servants and Django. But it’s not just the language that he devalues dark-skinned people – Candie’s entire behavior is extremely inhumane and makes it very easy for the viewer to feel a deep dislike for the villain.
Jamie Foxx (l.) as Django und Leonardo DiCaprio (r.) as Calvin Candie. Photo: imago images/Mary Evans
Putting yourself in such a world of thought was a challenge for Leonardo DiCaprio – which he also told director Tarantino. However, he in turn encouraged his actor to go all in and act as threateningly as possible, otherwise the audience would forever accuse him of false reserve.
Even more explicit was co-star Samuel L. Jackson, who simply replied to DiCaprio’s concerns: “Motherf***er, it’s just another Tuesday for us” – making it clear that, as a black man, he was sadly not the first to go on a film set have to go to be confronted with racist insults.
“Django Unchained” runs on Monday (November 11th) at 8:15 p.m. on Kabel 1. It is also available streaming in the Joyn media library.
