Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine.Photo: Mark Fellman/Netflix
Sofia Carsonis defending her latest film,Purple Hearts.
Purple Heartstells the story of Cassie (Carson), a liberal aspiring musician, and Luke (Nicholas Galitzine), a Marine with more conservative views, who enter a “marriage of convenience” — with unexpected results.
At the start of the film Cassie and Luke are portrayed as polar opposites especially when it comes to their political views. At first, these differences upset Cassie and cause tension between the initially “fake” couple though their feelings soon change.
The backlash appeared online withone viewertaking to Twitter to say that “the issue is he never changes only she does and the movie is painting racism as a simple flaw and sum to overcome. and its not like he changes. he stays the same.”
Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine.Hopper Stone/Netflix
“I hope that people understand that in order for characters to grow, they need to be flawed in the beginning. So we very much intentionally created two characters that had been bred to hate each other,“Purple Heartsdirector Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum toldVarietyin response to some of the online criticism. “They are flawed at the beginning and that was intentional.”
Rosenbaum then said that beyond the title’s more obvious reference to the military accolade, it also represents the two characters' hearts coming together.
Carson, who also served as a songwriter on the film, echoed the sentiment saying that part of why she “fell in love” with the film was because it was “so much more” than a love story.
“It’s two hearts, one red, one blue, two worlds apart, who are really raised to hate each other,” Carson said. “Through the power of love, they learn to lead with empathy and compassion and love each other and turn into this beautiful shade of purple.”
Rosenbaum toldVarietythat it was important they represented the current “very flawed” state of the country in their film.
Carson said their intention was to “represent both sides as accurately as possible.”
Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine inPurple Hearts.Hopper Stone/Netflix
Carson previously told PEOPLE that the role of Cassie was her “greatest challenge as an actor” and opened up about all of the work she put into preparing for the role.
ThePretty Little Liars: The Perfectionistsactress said she did “a lot of research into every aspect that could have shaped and formed the woman that she was when we met her.”
“Everything from the immigrant experience coming into this country, being an immigrant in San Diego, in Southern California, type 1 diabetes, military, the military culture, her worldview, her political views, her stance on marriage,” she continued.
Carson said she even began keeping a journal from Cassie’s point of view that included created memories of a story her mother told her about crossing the border, growing up with an abusive father and the first time she heard a song.
“Every memory I could think of,” Carson said.
Cassie’s “passion for justice” is something Carson said she learned in her own life from her mother — and is what connected her so closely to the character.
“My mom is the most extraordinary heart I’ve ever known,” Carson says. “She raised her daughters, not only to believe that as women anything was possible, but that the greatest and most important thing that we could do with our lives and our voices was to give.”
Purple Heartsis now streaming on Netflix.
source: people.com
