The APAHM Project Day 1: Wicked

Movie: Wicked Part 1

Directed By: Jon M. Chu

Release: 2024

Where to Watch: Peacock

Wanna Skip? Pick a Movie from APAHM Project 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

Why It Made The List:

It's not APAHM if we don't mention Jon M. Chu or his fan-favorite, ground-breaking film "Crazy Rich Asians." He's been less active since CRA, but maybe that's because he has been working on "Wicked" since 2021. Nominated for 314 awards and winning 128, including the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Paul Tazewell (the first African American man to win in the category's 76 year history), there was no doubt that "Wicked" solidified its spot in this year's APAHM lineup as well as audiences' personal library.

My Thoughts:

I don't think it comes as a shock to anyone that I am a huge fan of Jon M. Chu, even before his success with "Crazy Rich Asians." But the more I sit with "Wicked," its themes, Jon's approach, and his care, the more I respect him as a director. And it seems he was truly meant to direct this movie. Not only does his experience with dance and musical movies lend to his craft, but also the deeper understanding of what "Wicked" means to those who have always been deemed different.

If for some reason, the hundreds of marketing tactics and products didn't convince you to see the film or you're anti-musical (because those people apparently exist), "Wicked" follows the events of "The Wizard of Oz" pre-Dorothy. Galinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) are students at Shiz University, where they begin as rivals but become the best of friends. When Elphaba gets an invitation to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, the pair discover that the Wizard is a fraud and needs Elphaba's powers to eradicate and silence the animal community of Oz. Refusing to help, Elphaba becomes a scapegoat and must escape the Emerald City as the now labeled "Wicked Witch."

Sifting through the metaphors, it's not difficult to see that there are a lot of references to oppression, fascism, privilege, and scapegoating. The land of Oz once lived harmoniously with the animal race until a great flood wiped out their resources. Looking for a common enemy to bring people together, the Wizard decides to scapegoat the animal race as the reason for the lack of resources (I mean, Professor Dillamond, the only animal character with a name, is a literal goat). However, now that Elphaba is standing up for the animals, she is now public enemy number 1, with the Wizard and Madame Moribble weaponizing Elphaba's green skin.

While we can get into the comparisons of the politics of Oz and our real world at great length, let's focus on a broader theme that we have addressed many times over on the APAHM Project: oppression of the minority.

Elphaba, while the daughter of the governor, has never been treated as someone special. Unwanted, teased, and scolded her whole life, Elphaba has had to resort to defense mechanisms to explain the color of her skin. She is not seasick, she didn't eat grass as a kid, and she has always been green comes out of her mouth automatically whenever she gets a strange look. It reminds me all too much of my automatic response to when people ask me where I'm really from. It's said matter-of-factly, with no emotion except maybe a hint of annoyance or anger. It is sad to think we have been trained to anticipate this question and to be prepared at any moment to give our prepared and rehearsed answer.

Then she meets Galinda -- blonde hair, fair skinned, beloved by all. Spoiled by her parents, it's apparent she comes from a place of privilege ("of the Upper Uplands"). Upon hearing Elphaba's "I'm not seasick" speech, Galinda apologizes. Not to say "I'm sorry you feel the need to justify something about you cannot change and society has made you feel you have to explain your very existence" but instead to say she's sorry she is forced to live with this "problem" and offers to, eventually, help her rid of it. Everyone finds this offer admirable and praises Galinda, leaning into the "white savior" trope. This is then end capped with. a brilliant line from Bowen Yang's Pfannee "I don't even see color," a somewhat problematic statement many people use today. It's not that we should erase color, but acknowledge it and love people regardless of it.

Introduced to the world of Oz through Shiz University, you can see that there are still a handful of animal professors still teaching. However, when Elphaba accidentally wreaks mayhem on campus, a carving of the Wizard falls down, revealing a covered up motif of the animal founders of the school. A literal erasure of Oz's history and the importance of the animal contributions. Silenced both figuratively and literally. This is further demonstrated by the hate crime Dr. Dillamond faces in his own classroom "Animals are meant to be seen, not heard." How many times have the contributions of Asians, Pacific Islanders, Latino, Black and Brown people and women have been claimed by the majority? Too many to list here. What's worse is it seems that a school founded by animals has absolutely zero animal students. Not only are their contributions to the prestigious Shiz erased, it is now so elite that animals cannot attend. Even the Emerald City has non-talking animals (the monkeys) which is a parallel to white communities building their own white-only schools and neighborhoods after the end of segregation. As Dr. Dillamond says, "We cannot escape the past. We ignore it at our own peril."

When Fiyero, the prince of Winky Country, arrives, he is all about being brainless and shallow. However, he rides a horse that can speak and didn't fall under Elphaba's poppy sleeping magic. Instead, he prompts Elphaba to help him free a lion cub who was caged and scared. I believe because of Fiyero's allyship to the animal community, he does not fall under Elphaba's magic. He cares about the animals, although he portrays himself as being shallow. (Side note, Aynsley Broom on Instagram pointed out similarities in Fiyero's costume to traditional Samoan tattoos as well as the orignal novel making references to face and hand tattoos. And something about that fact just makes me so happy!)

Anyway, once Elphie and Glinda make their way to the Emerald City, Elphaba reveals her heart's desire is no longer to be "de-greenified" but to help the animals. Stop whatever it is that is silencing them and forcing them into hiding. While Glinda sings of helping those "less fortunate than I," Elphaba proves that she cares for those who are oppressed, even though she herself is oppressed as well. However, Elphaba is in a place of power to be able to ask the Wizard for something the animals themselves are not able to do. There is a strength that comes from standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. And even if they can, the voices of many is stronger than a voice that speaks alone.

Unfortuantely, Elphaba is now being framed as the reason for the mayhem happening in Oz. Madam Moribble describes her as such: "She is evil....Her green skin is but an outward manifestorium of her twisted nature. This distortion, this repulsion, this wicked witch." Not only are these words demeaning, but also dehumanizing. The kind of speech that reminds you you are othered and you don't belong. But worse: that you are the reason for division and unrest. Hate speech, even if you know in your bones isn't true, can still hurt. Racism hurts. Elphaba knows the truth, but hearing those words, especially from someone you trust, is heartbreaking. Elphaba only wants a world in which "no one should be scorned. Or laughed at. Or looked down upon or told to stop jabbering and keep quiet."

In the end, Glinda does not join Elphaba. She is used to pit good against wicked, a tool in the Wizard and Madam Moribble's plans. This reminds me of how the Asian American community was turned into the "model minority" in order to pit the Black and Asian communities against each other. A common enemy to distract from a racist America.

In Conclusion:

Obviously, I can go on and on and on about the significance of "Wicked." Jon M. Chu's commitment to honest story telling is commendable. From his efforts to cast dancers and singers of all shapes, ages, and backgrounds to casting Asians in smaller roles such as Keala Settles, Michelle Yeoh, and Bowen Yang demonstrates that when you put the right people in charge, changes can be made in front of and behind the camera (see Paul Tazewell and Alice Brooks).

In an interview, Jon M. Chu talks about how his immigrant family used to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." How that place that is far away was like the American dream. But "the yellow brick road is no longer the path that you just keep following. Because there is no wizard there that's going to give you your heart's desires. Life is a series of walking adventures and as you're walking smell the flowers, smell the air, and maybe you'll realize you're actually flying." What a beautiful perspective to view the American Dream. It's incredible that Chu was not the original pick to direct this adaption, because it is so very clear he was the best choice for the job. Bravo to Jon M. Chu and the success of "Wicked." What an incredibly strong start to APAHM 2025!

Shout Out!

Today I want to give a shout out to the South Asian American, woman founded beauty brand Kulfi, named after the South Asian ice cream! Kulfi is committed to inclusivity, offering a wide range of shades and colors to suit different skin tones. They also partner with organizations to provide access to mental health services (May is also Mental Health Awareness month). Check them out on their site or your local Sephora!

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