Many film enthusiasts eagerly awaited the sequel to the classic "Beetlejuice". After more than 35 years, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" finally premiered, featuring original cast members Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara. Tim Burton also brought in Jenna Ortega, who previously worked with him on "Wednesday". However, it is a line delivered by the young actress that has deeply offended Poles.
Poles Are Outraged. The Issue Involves Marie Skłodowska-Curie
The action in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" begins on Halloween. Jenna Ortega plays Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Winona Ryder's character. Astrid chooses a unique costume, dressing as the renowned scientist Marie Skłodowska-Curie. At first glance, the outfit is difficult to identify, but her neighbor recognizes it and asks about it. In the English version of the film, Astrid reveals that she is Marie Curie, a "French scientist" suffering from radiation poisoning.
This line has sparked outrage among Polish viewers, who took to social media to express their frustration. The main issue is the portrayal of Skłodowska-Curie as French. "Marie Skłodowska-Curie was Polish!" and "How can you call Skłodowska-Curie a Frenchwoman?" - are some of the comments on social media platform X.
Poles Fix the Error
Fortunately, the mistake made by the American filmmakers was corrected in the Polish version. In the Polish-language dub, the error was noticed, and the correction was made. In the Polish version, Astrid, voiced by Alicja Warchocka, refers to her costume as "the Polish physicist". The dubbing was done by Bartek Fukiet.
The renowned scientist Marie Skłodowska-Curie often emphasized her Polish heritage, as reflected in her autobiography, where she wrote:
My family is Polish, and my maiden name is Skłodowska.
Throughout her life, she frequently mentioned her homeland, referencing figures like Mickiewicz, Słowacki, and Krasiński when discussing the discovery of "polonium". Skłodowska-Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize twice - once in physics in 1903 and again in chemistry in 1911. She is one of only five people to have received two Nobel Prizes and one of just two to win in two different fields.
