Riley Keough’s character in the viral dark comedy speaks in a brash imitation of African-American speech, a recurring trope often ignored in Hollywood
Riley Keough and Taylour Paige are fearless performers in Zola, a garish fairytale nightmare of strippers in Florida, based on a true(ish) story. But despite spending the movie in various states of undress and vulnerability, what Keough was really worried about was the accent. Her character, Stefani, speaks in what you might call a “blaccent” – a brash, brazen imitation of African-American speech. As Paige put it, “she’s in blackface the whole movie”. The director, Janicza Bravo, encouraged it but, understandably, Keough had misgivings about going so offensively all-out.
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Riley Keough and Taylour Paige are fearless performers in Zola, a garish fairytale nightmare of strippers in Florida, based on a true(ish) story. But despite spending the movie in various states of undress and vulnerability, what Keough was really worried about was the accent. Her character, Stefani, speaks in what you might call a “blaccent” – a brash, brazen imitation of African-American speech. As Paige put it, “she’s in blackface the whole movie”. The director, Janicza Bravo, encouraged it but, understandably, Keough had misgivings about going so offensively all-out.
Related: The Guide: Staying In – sign up for our home entertainment tips...
- 8/2/2021
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
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