For anyone who loves “Wicked,” it’s easy to get swept up in the magic, the music and the sisterhood between the central pair of star-crossed friends at the heart of the story.
But it was also hard to ignore the first film’s political underpinnings, which shine even brighter in the follow up “Wicked: For Good,” in theaters now.
In the first part of the cinematic adaptation by director Jon M. Chu, which was nominated for best picture at last year’s Oscars, themes of racial tension were the backdrop to the story – which imagines an origin for the Wicked Witch of the West made famous in the 1939 classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” and explores her relationship with Glinda the Good. Woven into the premise are questions about how we embrace (or reject) those we feel are Other, as we see Glinda (Ariana Grande) at first denigrate green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), before warming up to her.
Their fragile bond is tested, however, when they come to discover that the feared and respected Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) is, in fact, a grand manipulator who intends to use Elphaba to achieve his goal of silencing the enchanted animals of Oz, who are seen having their rights increasingly stripped away and losing their ability to speak. The Wizard works with Elphaba’s teacher Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) to devise propaganda throughout Oz about Elphaba, thereby bestowing on her the identity of a “wicked witch.”
The concluding chapter raises the stakes and leans hard into another scorchingly hot political topic: immigration.
In one scene, Boq (Ethan Slater) from Munchkinland goes to the train station to fulfill his desire to travel to the Emerald City and profess his love to Glinda. However, when he gets to the station, he is horrified to learn that animals and Munchkins have been restricted from traveling and need a permit to do so. The policy was orchestrated by the newly appointed Governor of Munchkinland, Nessarose Thropp (Marissa Bode), who pines for Boq.
The scene depicts dramatic, harrowing moments in which Munchkins are blocked from being able to move about freely. Later in the film, some of Oz’s animals are seen hidden in a basement within the Wizard’s palace in Emerald City, locked away in cages.
The scenes bear eerie resemblance to familiar images seen and stories heard from those affected by the Trump administration’s unprecedented crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
Cities and regions across the country – from Charlotte, North Carolina to Chicago – have been left on edge as immigration raids have taken place there. In Charlotte, businesses closed in the wake of federal agents descending upon the area and more than 200 people have been arrested since what the Department of Homeland Security referred to as “Operation Charlotte’s Web” began last weekend.
The Trump’s administration continues to say its enforcement is targeting criminals and gang members. In June, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targets “the worst of the worst,” adding that “in President (Donald) Trump’s first 100 days, 75% of ICE arrests were criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges.”
The scenes bear eerie resemblance to familiar images seen and stories heard from those affected by the Trump administration’s unprecedented crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
Cities and regions across the country – from Charlotte, North Carolina to Chicago – have been left on edge as immigration raids have taken place there. In Charlotte, businesses closed in the wake of federal agents descending upon the area and more than 200 people have been arrested since what the Department of Homeland Security referred to as “Operation Charlotte’s Web” began last weekend.
The Trump’s administration continues to say its enforcement is targeting criminals and gang members. In June, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targets “the worst of the worst,” adding that “in President (Donald) Trump’s first 100 days, 75% of ICE arrests were criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges.”
