Cillian Murphy shares her thoughts on the controversial sex scenes in ‘Oppenheimer’.
As we reported to you a few days ago, certain scenes in Christopher Nolan’s latest film currently in theaters are causing controversy. Thus, a sex scene between Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh was censored in India and in several countries of the Middle East because of the nudity of the actress who plays Jean Tatlock, the mistress of J. Robert Oppenheimer. A computer-generated robe was even added to cover her body.
As you know, the film tells the story of the man known as the “father of the atomic bomb” and thus reveals his personal and intimate life. In an interview with GQ (via ComingSoon), Cillian Murphy spoke on the subject.
I think they were vital in this film. I think the relationship he has with Jean Tatlock is one of the most crucial emotional parts of the film. I think if they’re key to the story, they’re worth it. Look, nobody likes doing them, it’s the most awkward part of our job. But sometimes you have to get on with it.
Christopher Nolan is of this opinion too, as he explained in an interview for Insider: “When you look at Oppenheimer’s life and you look at his story, that aspect of his life, the aspect of his sexuality, his way with women, the charm he exuded, that’s an essential part of his story . His very intense relationship with Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh, is one of the most important things in his life.”
“And especially for the fact that Jean Tatlock was very explicitly a communist and his obsession with her therefore had huge ramifications for his later life and ultimate destiny. So it was very important to understand their relationship and to really look inside of it and understand what made it work without being shy or alluding about it, but trying to be intimate, to be there with him and to fully understand the relationship that was so important to him,” he added.
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The sex scenes are part of why this is America’s first “R-rated” movie. Christopher Nolan for over 20 years (and therefore prohibited for unaccompanied under-17s) – the last being Insomnia in 2002.
In the same vein, Oppenheimer also caused controversy in India because of a quote from the holy scriptures of Hinduism pronounced in the film during another sex scene. “Now I’ve become Death, destroyer of worlds” returns several times in the feature film, Oppenheimer having himself quoted this sentence in an interview for NBC News, a sentence which, pronounced in full act, however did not please the Indian government.
Oppenheimer censored: some countries edited a scene from Christopher Nolan’s film
Despite all this, Oppenheimer continues to shine at the box office having already grossed nearly $240 million worldwide. Besides Cillian Murphy And Florence Pughthe film also features Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Josh Hartnett, Jack Quaid, Casey Affleck and even Jason Clarke – to name but a few.
Oppenheimer is to be seen or reviewed in your nearest cinema.