Current:Home > reviewsFastexy:Philippines to let "Barbie" movie into theaters, but wants lines blurred on a "child-like" map -Golden Summit Finance
Fastexy:Philippines to let "Barbie" movie into theaters, but wants lines blurred on a "child-like" map
PredictIQ View
Date:2025-04-10 21:06:23
Manila — Philippine censors said Wednesday they have Fastexyallowed the "Barbie" movie to be shown in cinemas, after asking its Hollywood distributor to blur lines on a brightly-colored world map drawing allegedly showing China's claims to the disputed South China Sea. The fantasy comedy film about the famous doll, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is set to open in the Southeast Asian nation on July 19.
After reviewing the film twice and consulting foreign affairs officials and legal experts, the government's Movie and Television Review and Classification Board said it would allow it to be screened.
The South China Sea and the nine-dash line
The censors began examining "Barbie" last week after Vietnam reportedly banned the film over scenes featuring a map showing the so-called nine-dash line, which China uses to justify its maritime claims. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite rival claims from other Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
In April, China accused the U.S. of "endangering regional peace" by signing a new deal with the Philippines that will see four additional bases in the country used by U.S. troops, including one near the disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.
- Here's what to know as U.S.-China tension soars over Taiwan
Long-time treaty allies Manila and Washington agreed in February to expand cooperation in "strategic areas" of the Philippines as they seek to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness over self-governed Taiwan and China's construction of bases in the South China Sea.
A concession for Barbie's "cartoonish map"
After "meticulous" scrutiny of the film, Philippine censors were convinced that the "cartoonish map" did not depict the nine-dash line.
"Instead, the map portrayed the route of the make-believe journey of Barbie from Barbie Land to the 'real world,' as an integral part of the story," the censorship board said in a statement.
"Rest assured that the Board has exhausted all possible resources in arriving at this decision as we have not hesitated in the past to sanction filmmakers/ producers/ distributors for exhibiting the fictitious 'nine-dash line' in their materials."
In a separate letter to Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino, who had criticized the film for "violating Filipino fisherfolks' rights," the censors said they had asked Hollywood studio Warner Bros to "blur" the controversial lines on the map.
Dashed lines drawn in a "child-like manner" appeared in several locations on the map around land masses identified as Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia, the censors said. But it found only eight dashes around the landmass labelled "Asia."
"Moreover, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia are not visible on the map," the board said in the letter dated July 11 and shared with reporters.
"This is in stark contrast to the maps found in the banned films 'Abominable (2019)' and 'Uncharted (2022)'," it said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it appreciated the opportunity to watch "Barbie" to "ascertain if the depiction of the imaginary world map is inimical to the national interest."
Warner Bros did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment, but a Warner Bros spokesperson was quoted by Variety as saying the map was a "child-like crayon drawing" and "not intended to make any type of statement."
The Philippines' approval of "Barbie" coincided with the seventh anniversary of an international ruling that China's historical claims to the South China Sea have no legal basis.
- In:
- Hollywood
- Barbie
- South China Sea
- Philippines
- China
veryGood! (482)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Dance Moms' Kelly Hyland Shares Signs That Led Her to Get Checked for Breast Cancer
- More people make ‘no-buy year’ pledges as overspending or climate worries catch up with them
- Google to invest $2 billion in Malaysian data center and cloud hub
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- IRS makes free tax return program permanent and is asking all states to join in 2025
- Another US MQ-9 Reaper drone goes down in Yemen, images purportedly show
- Sweden seeks to answer worried students’ questions about NATO and war after its neutrality ends
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Xi pledges more Gaza aid and talks trade at summit with Arab leaders
Ranking
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Human remains found in jaws of alligator in Houston after woman reported missing
- Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler criticizes attorney but holds ‘no ill will’ toward golfer
- A woman will likely be Mexico’s next president. But in some Indigenous villages, men hold the power
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Selling Sunset Gets New Spinoff in New York: Selling the City
- North Korea fires missile barrage toward its eastern waters days after failed satellite launch
- Stuck at sea for years, a sailor’s plight highlights a surge in shipowner abandonment
Recommendation
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Police dismantle pro-Palestinian camp at Wayne State University in Detroit
US District Judge Larry Hicks dies after being struck by vehicle near Nevada courthouse
Elevate Your Wardrobe With These H&M Finds That Look Expensive
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
‘It’s just me, guys,’ Taylor Swift says during surprise set as fans cheer expecting guest
North Korea fires missile barrage toward its eastern waters days after failed satellite launch
Clerk over Alex Murdaugh trial spent thousands on bonuses, meals and gifts, ethics complaint says