'Fast & Furious' and the franchise's impact on diversity
LA TimesI am not a car person. Yet I’m convinced that the “Fast & Furious” franchise is a film series that, despite being commercially successful, is underappreciated for representing the Black, Latinx and Asian communities that have made the franchise so special. I found myself rolling my eyes at every inexplicable plot twist, like when Han was revealed to be alive in “F9” or when Letty conveniently lost her memory in “Fast & Furious 6.” Not to mention the number of times a woman’s half-dressed body was plastered across the screen before each street race for no reason other than to please its male-majority audience. Yet I’d argue that this franchise offers something much deeper and compelling than audiences might be aware of — starting with the broad ethnic and racial diversity in front of and behind the camera. Interestingly enough, Dom was coded as Italian American before being revealed as Cuban in “Fast 8.” L.A. is the group’s home base, the place they return to when the job is done, and the films make it clear that the BIPOC folks who live and work there are worth celebrating.
Discover Related
)
)
)
