Explanation: From a live-action adaptation of the manga Thermae Romae, about Ancient Rome. As the movie is Japanese and based on a Japanese work, most of the main cast actors chosen are, likewise, Japanese. I dig it, unironically.
I’ve only seen the Anime. TBF it’s probably hard to cast an all-Caucasian cast who also speak Japanese for the Rome shots. For this reason I think it’s fine to do what you can with the local pool of actors.
I mean, Rome wasn’t all Caucasian. The bulk of their earlier acquisitions were around the Mediterranean, including modern-day Italy (duh), Greece, parts of North Africa, western Turkey, southern France and Spain, most of which wouldn’t really be the type of white Caucasian we’d imagine today.
Still, sourcing local actors will have been a lot easier and cheaper.
Yeah don’t quote me on history, I was just referring to the frame you posted. Looks like they got some Caucasian actors but not enough.
Btw I’m curious, if you’ve watched, do they speak Japanese at all or are they extras?
The only bit that was Caucasian would have been parts of extreme north-eastern Turkey. Not that many people came from there.
I love stuff like this. Seeing history portrayed through the eyes of a culture not my own is endlessly fascinating. I really enjoyed Hetalia for this reason, too.
I volunteer to hand out the clutching pearls!