Lilo & Sew has been a beloved and basic Disney movie ever because it got here out in theaters within the early 2000s. The story about a bit of Hawaiian lady Lilo and her alien pet Sew resonated with many households on the market. Now that the animated film has a live-action remake, individuals are taking a more in-depth have a look at the casting
Disney casted younger newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Sydney Agudong as her daring older sister Nani. The 2 developed a particular bond backstage and embraced their closeness. “All through the making of this movie, it allowed me to form of actually bear in mind how a lot of the Hawaiian group places an emphasis on kuleana and household and ohana in that form of method,” Agudong informed Good Morning America. Kuleana is a Hawaiian time period meaning a accountability to take care of one’s land and group. Ohana is central to the movie’s message—which means household however with the sturdy emphasis that “no one will get left behind or forgotten.”
Nevertheless, Agudong’s background raised eyebrows ever since she was forged for the function.
What’s Sydney Agudong’s ethnicity?
Sydney Agudong is of Filipino, white, and Polynesian descent. She was born and raised in Kauai, Hawaii, alongside her sister Siena Agudong, who can also be an actress.
When she was introduced because the function of Nani, individuals criticized the truth that she was not a Native Hawaiian with darkish options. Native Hawaiians are individuals who have Indigenous Hawaiian ancestry, and non-Indigenous Hawaiian residents who have been born and raised in Hawaii are usually not thought-about Native. “Not being Indigenous or from a PoC group, it is probably not simple to see an issue with this casting, however inside our communities this can be a huge challenge,” one individual wrote on X. “No offense to Sydney, however Nani is Indigenous Hawaiian with sturdy options and darkish pores and skin, this casting is blatant colorism.”
Different followers identified that Nani’s pores and skin coloration and life as a Native Hawaiians are very essential to the themes of the animated movie. “nani is supposed to painting the expertise of natives who visibly are ethnically native, and the wrestle of maintaining household along with the looming risk of vacationer settlers and improve of housing costs. the film portrays the lifetime of native hawaiians,” one individual wrote. One other individual shared the identical sentiments, “The battle occurring in Lilo and Sew being concerning the colonialist state trying to drag this tiny ‘damaged’ native Hawaiian household aside is made extra obvious by their each being darker skinned ladies Casting a lighter skinned Hawaiian to play Nani interferes with that.”
Tia Carrere, who voices Nani within the animated movie and can also be of Filipino descent and raised in Hawaii, performed Nani and Lilo’s social employee within the live-action movie. Agudong appeared as much as her as inspiration whereas filming “actually wished to have a dialog” with Carrere earlier than she was even forged within the remake.
“She did create such an iconic model of Nani that I wished to ensure I used to be doing my due diligence on that finish,” Agudong defined to ScreenRant. “And getting to talk along with her was such a blessing, and he or she immediately made me really feel comfy and free, and gave me that passing of the generations, and that blessing to form of discover my very own avenue as an artist. That was actually, actually significant to me.”