Green Book's Utopian Mirage--A Tamed Narrative Under the White Savior Aura

Abstract

Set against the backdrop of racial segregation in the United States during the 1960s, the film Green Book depicts the social contradictions and identity crises arising from racial discrimination through the story of black pianist Shirley and white driver Tony's southern tour. From a postcolonialism perspective, this paper analyzed the underlying power relations and white-savior narrative in the film, revealing how its utopian ending conceals the structural racial inequality. The study finds that the film's portrayal of racial reconciliation at the end is a romanticized fantasy. Shirley's participation in Tony's family Christmas reunion comes at the cost of sacrificing his black identity. Furthermore, Shirley's elite status cannot represent the true circumstances of the broader Black community, and his personal success actually weakens the critics of systemic oppression to colored people. Though Green Book is themed around anti-racism, it is constrained by Hollywood narrative conventions and fails to confront the complexity of racial issues. True anti-discrimination works must transcend the framework of individual friendship, bring the essence of power relations to light and inspire audiences to reflect on real-world issues. Eliminating racism requires sustained global efforts, not merely the illusory reconciliation portrayed in the movies.