Ahead of release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Vietnam has banned its screenings citing reasons that the film contains a scene depicting a map with nine dash line, which acts as a representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Barbie is set to release in theatres on July 21.
While Vietnam is on the terms that the line and its contested areas violate its sovereignty, director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department of Ministry of Culture, Vi Kien Thanh, revealed that Barbie ban decision was by National Film Evaluation Council.
“We do not grant a licence for the American movie Barbie to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line,” said local newspaper Tuoi Tre according to Variety, while addressing how the countries are in loggerheads’ with contested areas.
Meanwhile, Barbie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the lead roles as Barbie and Ken respectively. The film is co-written by Noah Baumbach with the cast including Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, Dua Lipa, among others.
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