No one expected such success. The film hit the cinema screens on July 21, 2023, and has already been hailed as a box office hit. In its opening weekend, the production grossed over $155 million in the United States and Canada, thereby setting a new record for female directors.
Saudi Arabia halts distribution of “Barbie”. The film is to be censored
It has been conquering the big screens for three weeks now, and interest in the picture does not seem to wane. Crowds still come to cinemas to see a slightly funny and perverse feminist story. However, not everyone will get it. It turns out that the distribution of production in some countries of the Middle East has become questionable, while in others it has been completely banned.
A foreign portal reports that in Saudi Arabia the premiere of “Barbie” was postponed several times. First, it was moved to August 10, to inform about the new date after a few days, which was set for August 31. The reason for the decision is primarily the narrative, showing women in roles contrary to those cultivated in the country, as well as the open promotion of LGBTQ ideology. The local censors are currently negotiating with the film studio, which is to make changes and remove unwanted scenes. However, it is not known how the case will be finally resolved and whether the film will actually appear in cinemas.
More Middle Eastern countries ban distribution of Greta Gerwig’s film. What is the reason?
The situation is similar in Lebanon, which has so far been considered one of the most liberal Arab countries. The viewers there will certainly not see it on the big screen, because the Minister of Culture, Mohammad Mortada, approached the matter critically and categorically banned the distribution of the production. In his opinion, both the way the characters are presented and the dialogues between them promote content and values that are contrary to faith. – The film “Barbie” is against moral and religious values in Lebanon because it encourages perversion and gender transformation. At the same time, it calls for the rejection of patriarchy and ridicules the role of mothers, he said.
It’s still not over. As it turns out, Greta Gerwig’s world hit will not appear in Kuwait either. The authorities described the production as “promoting homosexuality”. This is not the only such case in this country. The problem also arose in the distribution of the horror film “Talk to Me”, which ultimately will not be shown in cinemas, and the reason is not the content of the production itself, but the transsexual actor in the cast.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
