Eight years ago, the Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu referred to superhero cinema as a “cultural genocide”, which provoked an unfortunate response from Robert Downey Jr., the very interpreter of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. .
In 2015, the famous actor chose to downplay the prominent director’s comments and during an interview —in the midst of a promotional campaign for Avengers: Age of Ultron— simply mentioned that “for a man whose mother tongue is Spanish, whoever can form a phrase like ‘cultural genocide’ [en inglés] indicates how bright it is.”
Behind those words by Downey Jr., many interpreted (including Iñárritu himself) that there was a certain contempt for Spanish-speakers or at least a hint of racism. However, the Oscar winner revealed this week that the MCU star hasn’t apologized and he doesn’t really expect him to.
“Of course not. I don’t expect it,” said the filmmaker in an interview with The Independent (via indiewire). “Honestly, I couldn’t care at all. I am completely against what he has said, but I will defend his right to say what he wants. Anything you want to say is fine, but it reads completely wrong to me.”
In September 2022, the director of Loves Dogs Y birdman He asserted that what the actor said was equivalent to referring contemptuously to Mexico as a “banana country” where reflections and criticism have no place.
“[Sus comentarios] They were like, ‘Oh, you guys from your banana country. If I were from Denmark or Sweden, I might be seen as someone philosophical. But when you’re Mexican and you say those things, then you’re pretentious,” Iñárritu said when recalling that slip of Robert Downey Jr.
At the end of last year, the actor from Avengers: Endgame commented again about the existing hatred or suspicion towards the blockbusters —particularly towards superhero movies— after Quentin Tarantino lamented that Hollywood was currently undergoing “marvelization”. However, this time, Downey Jr.’s response was more conciliatory.
“I think we are in a time where everything is much more fragmented and where there is a kind of bifurcation. Throwing stones one way or the other… And I have had my reactions in the past when people said things that I felt discredited my integrity. I say, ‘You know what? Let’s get over it. We are all a community. There is room for everything,’” said the Oscar nominee in an interview with Deadline. “Thank God for Top Gun: Maverick Y Avatar: The Path of Water. That’s all I have to say. We need big to make room for films like The time of Armageddon”.
Downey Jr. is part of the multi-star cast of oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s new film about the father of the atomic bomb. Its premiere in Mexican theaters is scheduled for July 20, 2023.
Meanwhile, Iñárritu could compete in the upcoming Oscar 2023 installment thanks to his intimate feature film Bard, false chronicle of a few truthswhich is currently aspiring to get a nomination for Best International Film.
On the other hand, this film starring Daniel Giménez Cacho competes in the category of Best Foreign Language Film within the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. The award ceremony will take place next Sunday, January 15.
Antonio G. Spindola I have very bad memory. Out of solidarity with my memories, I choose to lose myself too. Preferably in a movie theater.
