This Tuesday, October 4, Canal+ is broadcasting West Side Story, the remake of the most legendary of musicals. Yet Steven Spielberg’s film was banned in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
A critically acclaimed film. This Tuesday, October 4, Canal+ is broadcasting West Side Story, a feature film directed by Steven Spielberg, and released in 2021. The famous Broadway musical created in 1957 had already been adapted for the screen in 1961 by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. At the time, this first adaptation had been a real success, rewarded with ten Oscars. 60 years later, Spielberg’s film also won a statuette, that of the best actress in a supporting role.
Like the original 1961 version, the film immerses us in 1950s New York, and tells us of the thwarted love of Maria and Tony, both from rival gangs. On one side the Jets, young whites, and on the other the Sharks, Puerto Rican immigrants, who are encroaching on their territory. But one evening, Riff, the leader of the Jets, manages to convince his friend Tony, ex-leader of the group, to come to a ball organized on neutral ground with the Latinos. The young man will then fall under the spell of Maria, the sister of the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo. A thunderbolt that will strengthen hostilities. But the two lovers will defy the taboos to live their passion at all costs.
West Side Story Banned Over Transgender Character
But even before the announcement of its theatrical release, and when the film was already available around the world, several countries have refused to broadcast it. This is the case of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where the film did not receive an exit certificate, or even Qatar and Oman, where Disney has refused to comply with the cuts requested by broadcasters.
As The Hollywood Reporter reported, these countries lamented the screen presence of Anybodys, a transgender character played by non-binary comedian Iris Menas. In the 1961 version, Anybodys was a “tomboy”, a tomboy played by comedian Susan Oakes.
West Side Story is not the first Hollywood film to have been censored by these countries where homosexuality is prohibited. In 2020, several Gulf countries had banned the broadcast ofAhead, Pixar film, due to an allusion to the homosexuality of one of the characters. And in November 2021, the superhero movie The Eternals had suffered the same fate, in particular because of a kiss between two gay characters interpreted by comedians Brian Tyree Henry and Haaz Sleiman.
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© Niko Tavernise
3/12 –
West Side Story
The famous Broadway musical created in 1957 had already been adapted for the screen in 1961 by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins.
© Niko Tavernise
4/12 –
West Side Story
At the time, this first adaptation had been a real success, rewarded with ten Oscars. 60 years later, Spielberg’s film also won a statuette, that of the best actress in a supporting role.
© Niko Tavernise
5/12 –
West Side Story
Like the original 1961 version, the film immerses us in 1950s New York, and tells us of the thwarted love of Maria and Tony, both from rival gangs.
© Niko Tavernise
6/12 –
West Side Story
On one side the Jets, young whites, and on the other the Sharks, Puerto Rican immigrants, who are encroaching on their territory.
© Niko Tavernise
7/12 –
West Side Story
But even before the announcement of its theatrical release, and while the film was already offered around the world, several countries refused to broadcast it.
© Niko Tavernise
8/12 –
West Side Story
This is the case of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where the film did not receive a release certificate, or even Qatar and Oman, where Disney refused to bend to the cuts requested by the broadcasters.
© Niko Tavernise
9/12 –
West Side Story
As The Hollywood Reporter reported, these countries lamented the screen presence of Anybodys, a transgender character played by non-binary comedian Iris Menas.
© Niko Tavernise
10/12 –
West Side Story
In the 1961 version, Anybodys was a “tomboy”, a tomboy played by comedian Susan Oakes.
© Niko Tavernise
11/12 –
West Side Story
West Side Story is not the first Hollywood film to have been censored by these countries where homosexuality is prohibited.
© Niko Tavernise
12/12 –
West Side Story
In 2020, several Gulf countries banned the distribution of Forward, a Pixar film, because of an allusion to the homosexuality of one of the characters.