In a recent exchange with The Sunday Times, Martin Freeman, the protagonist in Miller’s Girl, supported the disputed film. In the motion picture, Ortega takes on the role of Cairo Sweet, a student, opposite Freeman who embodies the character of Jonathan Miller, her mentor in creative writing. Their bond veers into forbidden territory following a writing task, resulting in complex consequences.
In the conversation, Freeman described the film as “sophisticated and multi-dimensional” and endorsed the 31-year age gap between himself and Ortega. This significant age difference has generated considerable debate and disapproval, especially surrounding the intimate scenes. Freeman conveyed his dismay that the narrative had been somewhat “stained by the relationship.” At 52, Freeman is notably older than the 21-year-old Ortega.
Revelations from the movie’s intimacy coordinator, Kristina Arjona, regarding Ortega’s ease and engagement in the intimate scenarios prompted SAG-AFTRA to strengthen its Regulations and Guidelines pertaining to the employment of Intimacy Coordinators, with a focus on discretion.
While championing Miller’s Girl, Freeman drew a comparison to the Academy Award-winning Holocaust film Schindler’s List, challenging the backlash aimed at Liam Neeson for his part in a Holocaust-themed production. Freeman sought to underscore the role of cinema in tackling difficult topics. Despite this, the parallel fell short. Schindler’s List is a depiction of a historical event and boasts an impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Conversely, Miller’s Girl centers around a romantic entanglement between a teacher and a student, a narrative that has garnered a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The online reception towards the movie has primarily been unfavorable, with favorable comments mostly hailing Ortega’s performance. Despite Freeman’s claim in The Sunday Times discussion that the film does not romanticize the affair or depict it as “fantastic,” many viewers feel that the mentioned complexities are lacking.
Miller’s Girl is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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