“Barbie,” the new fantasy comedy movie due for imminent release around the world will not be screened in Vietnam, as the so-called “nine-dash line” showing China’s territorial claims is shown in it.
Vietnam’s National Film Evaluation Council decided to ban the movie on the grounds that it shows the controversial nine-dash line which China has used for decades to lay claim to large parts of the South China Sea - known in Vietnam as the East Sea, the VN Express newsportal reported on Monday.
China’s claims in the area have been internationally condemned, the portal noted.
The movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was set to be released in Vietnam on July 21.
It tells the story of Barbie and Ken shown happy in a colourful and apparently perfect world before they are shifted to the real worldand come down with a bump. The film is the first Barbie film with real actors.
Vietnam has in the past banned films showing the nine-dash line. Last year “Uncharted,” starring Tom Holland, was removed from screens andin 2021, Netflix Vietnam also had to remove eight episodes of the”Pine Gap” series which also showed images of the line. — dpa
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