| Da Vinci Code cleared to screen, without cuts |
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| By Lan Anh Nguyen |
18 May 2006 13:17 |
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Controversial Hollywood thriller The Da Vinci Code will be shown in its entirety in Thailand after Sony Pictures threatened to withdraw the release of the movie if the climax was to be cut.
The governments censorship committee had earlier decided to cut about 10 minutes from the end of the movie in response to complaints from Christian groups that it insulted their faith.
After intense negotiations with Sony Pictures yesterday, both sides reached an agreement under which Sony was allowed to screen the full version of the movie, with disclaimers stating that it is a work of fiction to be added to the beginning and the end, said Arm Chareonsiri, Sony Pictures Thailands marketing director.
There will be no cut, said Arm in a phone interview yesterday.
I am so glad for the Thai audience. They wont have to buy pirated copies to see the whole movie.
Sony Pictures used its right not to release the movie in Thailand as a bargaining chip with the government, said Arm.
The headquarters said if the movie doesnt pass censorship then it will not be released in Thailand. So we told the committee that this is going to be bad for Thailand because we would be the only country where the movie wont be shown, Arm said.
Christian groups expressed satisfaction with the decision, saying Sony Pictures had apologized for its religious insensitivity and agreed to help them distribute nearly 200,000 booklets separating fact from fiction for movie-goers.
I accept the decision, said Thongchai Pradabchananutrat, chairman of the Protestant Coordinating Committee.
We just wanted to discipline the company and tell the public that this is not the truth. I think our protest had put the company in a very awkward position over the last few days, and the whole country now knows that this movie is untrue. So we completed our goal and I am thankful to the company for their cooperation.
Christian leaders had earlier expressed concern the movie might mislead audiences in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, in which Christians make up less than one percent of the population. Thongchai said while some conservative Christians might not be satisfied with the decision, most people accepted it.
The film will be released in more than 80 cinemas today.
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