Geopolitical conflicts led censors to ask that map be blurred in scenes
The Philippine Censors Panel approved the showing of Barbie in theaters, as long as the map that supposedly shows maritime dispute is erased. The film is set for release on July 19 in Southeast Asia.
The analysis began last week based on the decision of Vietnam that vetoed the feature film in the country. The Vietnam Film Department claimed that the map represents the so-called nine-ray line, used by the People’s Republic of China to demarcate maritime territory claimed by the Vietnamese government.
In a letter sent to the studio of Warner Bros. (via The Guardian), the council acknowledged, however, that the cartoon map “depicted the route of the fictitious journey of Barbie from Barbie Land to the ‘real world’ as an integral part of the story”, rather than a geopolitical manifesto. Still, the map was required to be blurred in scenes.
Barbie arrives in Brazil on July 20, when it also opens Oppenheimer. The coincidence in dates did not overshadow any of the films. Proof of this is the fact that the Noitão Oppenbarbieat Petra Belas Artes, is already sold out.
Source: Rollingstone
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