Somerset – In a dramatic turnaround, the infamous movie “The UnRedacted” formerly titled “Jihad Rehab” is on the list for a Bafta award. The movie was criticized this summer after it was deemed “Islamaphobic” following its Sundance film premiere, with critics questioning the ethics of the documentary-style production.
Despite the infamous reputation of the film, one small independent cinema in Crouch End in the UK has screened the movie and managed to get it nominated for a Bafta award.
The controversy sparked as the international campaign named “Cage” caused a social media frenzy fighting for the rights of those they feel were violated during filming, noting the harmful narrative.
The storyline follows four prisoners at Guantanamo Bay as they prepare for freedom, with the documentary-style film focusing on Yemeni men at a Saudi deradicalization center.
Adding to the controversy, the film also was criticized by 230 filmmakers who were furious that an American director Meg Smacker had made a film about Muslims and the Middle East. The enraged movie directors said they felt too few Sundance films are directed by Arabs and Muslims, the New York Times reported.
Among the reasons that ultimately led to the movie being canceled was the issue of consent and ethics behind the men featured in the film. Major movie makers questioned if participants had fully consented to being filmed.
The film has been rejected by major film festivals in both the UK and the US, and some have even reported rejecting showing the film before watching it based on the bad press it had received.
Sundance issued an apology, writing: “It is clear that the showing of this film hurt members of our community — in particular, individuals from Muslim and MENASA communities — and for that, we are deeply sorry.”
To save face the director changed the name of the movie to The UnRedacted. But a member of the Cage advocacy still lashed out, writing that changing the name of the film does not cover up its “harmful narrative or lazy stereotyping.”
This is not the first film to be banned this year due to hurtful and damaging content toward the Muslim community.
Last June, Morocco and other countries banned “The Lady of Heaven” for its “blasphemous” depiction of Prophet Muhammad.
Read Also: German Channel Apologizes After Islamophobic Comments Against Moroccan Players
