The Hollywood blockbuster directed by Greta Gerwig was due to be officially released in Vietnam on July 21. But, in early July, the Ministry of Culture announced that the film’s license was invalidated because of a disputed border in the China Sea.
A romantic comedy, a blockbuster centered on the character of the most famous doll in the world, a universe all in pink… a priori nothing to cry foul about the new film by American Greta Gerwig.
Yet the much-awaited feature film, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has angered Vietnamese authorities, accusing Hollywood of being pro-China. Result: it will not be released in theaters. Vi Kien Thanh, head of Vietnam’s film department, confirmed the film’s ban to Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre Online on July 3.
A ban linked to geopolitics
One scene from the film, just one, is what it took for the film’s license to be withdrawn from it in Vietnam. In question, on a plan, we can see Barbie in front of a map of the world, drawn a little in the material of a child. Almost imperceptibly, next to China, a line with dashes is depicted. From a geopolitical point of view, it could be the “nine dash line” in French. In any case, this is what the Vietnamese authorities considered.
But, what is so disturbing in these few dots on a map? In fact, China uses this line to delimit the territories it claims in the South China Sea. But, the neighboring countries of China, in particular Vietnam, contest this Chinese arbitration.
China, which has drawn this dotted border on the maps since 1947, is trying more and more to extend its influence in this maritime space, out of nationalism and because it is an area full of resources, especially oil. The country has been accused of harassing Vietnamese fishermen in the area and of strengthening its military presence by building bases there.
Recurring censorship
It is not the first time that a film cannot be released in Vietnam because of this territorial dispute. In 2019, the DreamWorks animated film “Abominable” was also banned because it contained a plan with the nine-dash line on the map. In 2022, it was the blockbuster “Uncharted” with Tom Holland and Antonio Banderas who found himself in the same situation. Even Netflix had to bow to the Vietnamese authorities by removing the entire Australian spy series “Pine Gap” from the platform.
And, Vietnam is not the only country in the region to ban film productions because of the conflict in the China Sea. On July 12, the Philippine authorities decided: if Warner Bros wants to release Barbie in cinemas in the country, the plan representing the controversial card will have to be blurred. Even the world of Barbie seems to have its flaws…
Subscribe to Numerama on Google News to not miss any news!