HANOI: Vietnam has prohibited the screening of the upcoming “Barbie” movie in cinemas due to scenes featuring a map displaying China’s claims over territory in the South China Sea, according to state media reports on Monday.
The fantasy comedy film, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was originally scheduled for nationwide release in Vietnam on July 21. However, major cinema chains in the country have removed its performance schedule from their websites following a government decision to ban the film.
The ban was enforced due to the inclusion of scenes showcasing the so-called nine-dash line, a depiction China has historically utilized to assert its extensive territorial claims over the resource-rich sea. This move has often raised objections from Vietnam, which also asserts its own claims over parts of the waterway.
According to Vi Kien Thanh, the director of Vietnam’s Department of Cinema, the film review board watched the movie and determined that it violated regulations concerning the depiction of the nine-dash line. As a result, the decision was made to prohibit its screening in Vietnam. The nine-dash line scene reportedly appeared multiple times throughout the film, as stated by the Tien Phong state media outlet.
Ban on “Barbie” Not First Instance in Vietnam
In communist Vietnam, all films must be approved by censors who assess them for excessive violence, suggestive sexual content, and politically sensitive material. This ban on “Barbie” is not the first instance of a film being prohibited in Vietnam due to its portrayal of the nine-dash line. Last year, the action-adventure movie “Uncharted,” starring Tom Holland, was banned from theaters for featuring similar scenes.
The Vietnamese government has previously taken action against other productions that have depicted the disputed South China Sea islands under Beijing’s control. In 2018, a scene from the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians” that displayed a designer bag with a map of the world showcasing the disputed islands was cut. Additionally, in 2019, Vietnam pulled the animated DreamWorks film “Abominable” from cinemas due to the inclusion of similar scenes. Furthermore, Netflix was instructed last year to remove episodes of its “Pine Gap” series that featured depictions of the nine-dash line.
The South China Sea holds significant economic value due to its oil and gas deposits and crucial shipping lanes. Several neighboring countries have expressed concerns about China’s expanding influence in the region.
