In an interview, Kushner talked about a portion of the key distinctions that his and Spielberg’s reboot aimed to include. In particular, the screenwriter explained how the original film “partitions along orientation lines.” Kushner outlines that “The male side is the white side, and it’s the Jets. Yet, on the Puerto Rican side, the story is carried not by the men, however the ladies,” referring to Maria and Anita being at the center of the narrative. Notwithstanding, Spielberg and Kushner chose early on that Doc, originally a supporting job, would be replaced by Valentina, another character created for returning original star Rita Moreno. Kushner revealed he expressed “an entire 30-page biography of Valentina,” to figure out this new female character that was a center part of the “male side” of the Jets.
This speaks to a major change made in the 2021 rendition of the film, as Moreno’s Valentina steps in as Doc’s widow. She also gets the musical number “Some place,” which was given to Tony and Maria in the 1961 original. Not just does this allow Moreno an opportunity to get back to arguably her most famous film, however it steers the results somewhat so the Jets’ story is less male-dominated. This adds more weight to the second in which Valentina prevents the men from assaulting Anita (originally halted by Doc in the 1961 West Side Story), rather than Anita being the main woman present during the scene. Spielberg and Kushner composed the part specifically for Moreno, yet the actor initially declined, not wanting to do a basic cameo. Be that as it may, when she read the content and saw Kushner and Spielberg’s intent to modernize and expand on the original story, she became enamored with the idea and immediately endorsed on to play Valentina.
West Side Story is a classic for a reason, however the film was also certainly a result of now is the ideal time. Spielberg’s remake is an encouraging indication of a film industry that is striving for increased variety, accuracy and inclusivity. However there remains an ongoing debate as to whether the film merited a remake at all, considering its not unexpected obvious racism and problematic portrayals, cast individuals like Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose have said they are “glad” to be involved, and consider the film “a gigantic leap forward.” In addition to the updated visual flair, amazing utilization of shading and stunning camera work, Spielberg’s changes to West Side Story serve to develop the legacy of the original musical, creating a more representative and inclusive story that can will serve to the famous turn out alive long into the future.
