Film-maker Nate Parker apologises for being ‘tone deaf’
The actor, director and producer said he has learned a lot since being falsely accused of rape.
Film-maker Nate Parker, who three years ago came under scrutiny for a rape allegation from college, has apologised for his response at the time.
Speaking at the Venice International Film Festival on Sunday, Parker said he was tone deaf to things in the climate and he has learned a lot in the three years since he said he was falsely accused.
He was acquitted in the case.
“Standing here today at 39, the reality is I was quite tone deaf … to a lot of the things that happened in the climate,” Parker said at a small news conference in Venice on Sunday.
“My response obviously hurt a lot of people, frustrated and angered a lot of people, and I apologise.”
The film’s inclusion in this year’s festival, which also included the premiere of a new Roman Polanski film, was criticised by some who saw it as incongruous with the progress that has been made in the culture in the #MeToo era.
The #MeToo movement, which references a Twitter hashtag used by victims to acknowledge experiences of sexual assault and harassment, gained international momentum in October 2017 after dozens of women accused movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
Parker was accused of sexual assault when he was a sophomore at Penn State University.
Although he was acquitted, the incident emerged in the press around the release of The Birth of a Nation, a film which many expected to win awards.
Parker responded then saying he was “falsely accused” and had been “vindicated” by the court.
A remorseful Parker was seated alongside Spike Lee, who is supporting the film, and producers Mark Burg and Tarak Ben Ammar hours before his new film premieres at the festival to some 650 people.
“I’m still learning and growing and still feeling the need to make films that speak to things that need to change in our country and the world,” Parker said.
“And this topic was very dear to me.”
The new film, American Skin, stars Parker as an ex-Marine who sees his unarmed 14-year-old son murdered by a police officer during a traffic stop.
When the courts fail to hold the officer responsible, Parker’s character Lincoln Jefferson decides to seek justice in his own way.
Parker was inspired to write the film after Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri.
“I haven’t had a film that’s affected me this deeply in a while,” said Lee, who offered to help Parker in any way he could.
“This is a very important film and I wanted to be part of it … Art can affect people’s behaviour, good or bad.
“And it is my hope that this film deals with the very serious problem with police and brown and black people in the United States of America.”
Lee said he had no reservations in putting his name behind Parker’s.
He said: “It’s a move forward. Nate is in here. He’s not hiding. He’s answering all questions.”
“This is only Nate’s second feature film, there’s a lot more in him.”
The producers did not hesitate to back a film from Parker either, even considering the fact The Birth of a Nation fizzled in cinemas.
Next week, they will take the film to the Toronto International Film Festival to screen for distributors in the hope of securing a release plan.
