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Rabat – Algeria has banned the screening of the American film “Barbie” nearly three weeks after its release in cinemas across the country, Algerian news outlet 24H Algerie reported.
The Ministry of Culture and Arts reportedly sent notices to cinemas in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, instructing them to remove the film from their schedules “immediately.”
The film’s distributor in Algeria, MD Ciné, also received the ban notice.
The ministry cited the Barbies’ alleged “violation of morality” as the official reason for the ban on the adventure-comedy film.
Despite being a global box office success with over a billion dollars in revenue, the feature film will no longer be available to Algerian audiences.
Since its release on July 19, the movie enjoyed significant success in Algeria, reportedly attracting more than 40,000 viewers across the country’s cinemas.
This move by Algeria follows a trend seen in some other Arab countries, including Kuwait, where the film has been deemed to “contravene morality, customs, and religious values.”
In Lebanon, the Minister of Culture Abbas Mortada called for the censorship of the movie, arguing that it contradicts the country’s moral and religious values.
Read also: Humorous and Serious: How ‘Barbie’ Resonated with Audiences
He claimed that the movie “promotes homosexuality and transsexuality… supports rejecting a father’s guardianship, undermines and ridicules the role of the mother, and questions the necessity of marriage and having a family.”
Scheduled for release in Lebanon on August 31, 2023, the Barbie movie has also encountered opposition in Vietnam due to its depiction of disputed maritime boundaries between Vietnam and China.
Meanwhile, the movie was warmly received in Morocco, touching audiences with thought-provoking themes and messages.
Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film features popular stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. It tells the story of “Stereotypical Barbie” as she transitions from her fantastical world to the real world.
The movie is a witty yet impactful exploration of serious themes, including sexism, patriarchy, and feminism, among others.
Set in a Barbie Land where gender roles are reversed, the film follows Barbie’s journey to the real world to help a young girl find happiness, all while confronting issues like sexism and societal expectations.
Barbie eventually attempts to challenge unrealistic beauty standards, promote female empowerment, and emphasize the importance of balanced relationships between genders through the film’s absurd gender power shifts.
