‘Golda’ Director Guy Nattiv Defends Helen Mirren’s Casting Amid ‘Jewface’ Controversy, Promises New Perspective of Former Israeli Leader

Growing up in Israel, Guy Nattiv knew one narrative about Golda Meir, the countrys prime minister from 1969-1974. She was the pariah of Israel, says Nattiv. Everyone treated her like shes a monster. Unlike other historical figures, there were no parks or schools named after Israels first (and only) female prime minister. The vitriol stemmed largely from her administrations handling of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, a devastating conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states that resulted in thousands of deaths.

It was only about 10 years ago, when top secret government documents were declassified, that the world, and Nattiv, began to learn the truth about what really went on during those tense days. We got a totally different story about this woman and a glimpse of all the faults and fuckups of the other men around her, says Nattiv. We understood she took the blame because shes a woman, shes older, and shes not from here.

Golda, now playing in theaters in the U.S., is part of the directors hope to correct the narrative surrounding the misunderstood figure, while also acknowledging her faults. Starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren as Meir and Liev Schreiber as Henry Kissinger, the movie is scripted by Nicholas Martin and depicts what went on in those secret rooms and Meirs own home during those pivotal days. We see the leader fighting a very public battle but also a private one, as Meir is secretly in treatment for lymphoma.

When Nattiv first came across the project, it spoke to him on several levels. An Academy Award winner for his 2018 short film Skin, Nattiv has forged a filmmaking career telling stories with a timely message even when set decades ago, like Golda. (Nattiv runs New Native Pictures with his wife and producing partner Jaime Ray Newman, whose projects include the feature film of Skin and the upcoming Tatami, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival next month.) Nattiv is also from Israel and Jewish; his grandparents are Holocaust survivors, and he felt he had an inherent understanding of the story and its impact on his home country. Theres no one single family in Israel that doesnt have a correlation to this horrible war, says the director.

Prior to Nattiv signing on, Mirren was already attached to portray Meir, a casting choice that had originally been suggested by Meirs grandson, Gideon. He said that when he sees Helen, he sees his grandmother, says Nattiv. And I guess the production heard that and offered it to her before I came on board. She said yes, but she wanted to meet the director. Mirren came to Nattivs home for an initial meeting, and the two spoke for four hours. I have to tell you, I felt like I was talking to my mom, I felt that I was talking to someone who understands Judaism, who understands Golda. Nattiv reveals that Mirren told him how when she was 29, she fell in love with an Israeli man and visited the country for the first time. She hiked and she went to the kibbutz, and she worked in the kitchen and she fell in love with this country, he says. When she told me that and we spoke, I said, Youd be an amazing Golda. And we went with it.

Though Mirrens acting bona fides are without question, the production has come under some criticism for not selecting a Jewish actor in the role. Along with Bradley Coopers upcoming Leonard Bernstein film Maestro, Golda has also faced controversy for Jewface, with some in the industry voicing disagreements with Mirrens casting and make-up.

Nattiv says he understands the conversation surrounding representation. I welcome the discussion; I think its important to have. I mean, CODA wouldnt be CODA 20 years ago they probably would take Tom Hanks and Michelle Pfeiffer to play the parents, he notes. So its a great thing that happens, when people are representing their communities.We didnt always have that before.

But in this case, I feel the right person is playing the right role, he continues. He goes on to point out other recent films where he felt the right actors were utilized, including Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer and cast members of The Fabelmans. For instance, when I saw Oppenheimer, I didnt care that hes not Jewish. I thought he did a great job. And when I saw Spielbergs movie, I didnt care that the actors werent all Jewish. I felt so emotional about them, I really believed them. And lets say theres a role where the character was Protestant or Catholic I wouldnt want to hear that a Jewish actor wouldnt be able to play it.

Helen Mirren in Golda. Sean Gleason Mirren has earned raves for her portrait of Meir, with Varietys Owen Gleiberman praising both the physical transformation and the voice, noting, Mirren gets it exactly right and adding, The way Mirren plays it, Meirs humanity is always there. She is aided in an astonishingly physical transformation by a team led by makeup and hair designer Karen Hartley Thomas, who had the daunting task of recreating Meirs distinct features. Karen and her team did a brilliant job not overdoing it, says Nattiv, adding it was important to keep Mirrens eyes free. On the first shooting day, when Helen stepped out of the trailer, it was surreal. We all just stared in disbelief. Nattiv adds that Mirren had to show up on set earlier than anyone to complete the transformation and he never saw her out of the makeup. I didnt see Helen for 37 days, I saw Golda.

Mirren is matched by Schreibers channeling of Kissinger, a casting choice that seems both bold and obvious. Nattiv notes that even the actor was unsure if he could pull it off. He said, How do I do him? I dont want to do it like a sketch from Saturday Night Live, I want him to be a real character, Nattiv relays. Knowing someone in production had a connection to Kissinger, Nattiv suggested the two meet. Two days before shooting, Liev went to Kissingers apartment in New York and sat with him for two hours. He gave him all sorts of anecdotes about himself and about Golda. And I think that help Liev, who elevated everything to a more authentic level.

After premiering at the Berlin Film Festival and playing the Jewish Film Festival, where it screened for 6,000 people, Golda is playing now in both the U.S. and Israel. During our conversation, Nattiv is receiving congratulatory texts and messages from around the world. People are very emotional about the film and very proud of Helen for portraying her, Nattiv notes. And they feel its an homage to the people who died, and it doesnt shy away from criticism towards this regime that was wiped out after this failure.