Philippine authorities are weighing a decision to follow the example set by Vietnam and ban the film. Barbie of Greta Gerwig and starring margot robbie and ryan gosling.
The Philippines, like Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia, have competing claims in the South China Sea and strongly contest China’s claim to almost the entire maritime region.
“If the invalidated 9-dot line was depicted in the movie ‘Barbie,’ then it behooves the Motion Picture and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to ban it, as it denigrates Philippine sovereignty”said Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino, vice chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, according to local media reports.
On Tuesday, the MTRBC posted a statement on its website saying it is reviewing the film’s rating. But he did not give an explanation.
“We confirm that the Board has reviewed the film ‘Barbie’ today, July 04, 2023. At this time, the assigned First Review Committee is deliberating Warner Brothers FE Inc.’s application for an Exhibit Permit. Once it is available, a copy of the Display Permit or the Committee’s decision will be uploaded to the Agency’s official website,” the MTRBC said.
Last year, MTRBC blocked the release of “Uncharted” in the Philippines for the same reasons.
The senators appear willing to discuss a compromise, such as asking distributor Warner Bros. to edit out the offending scene in “Barbie,” though there’s no certainty the studio would agree.
Philippine theaters should include “at a minimum” an explicit disclaimer that the nine-dash line is “a figment of China’s imagination,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
