7 scandalous films of the 21st century that censorship did not want to release

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

From time to time, because of the films, real scandals flare up, and the pictures themselves can be banned from showing without being released on screens. In this case, we can talk not only about too explicit scenes. However, the noise and scandals around films usually play into the hands of producers, because the effect of free advertising can significantly increase the box office due to the increased interest of viewers.

Fahrenheit 9/11, USA, 2004

Michael Moore's documentary won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was greeted with a standing ovation that lasted, according to various sources, from 15 to 25 minutes. Only after the resounding victory "Fahrenheit 9/11" was released in the American cinemas, because before this triumph of the picture, film distributors were afraid to get involved with a documentary pamphlet. Too clearly heard in it accusations against the then current US President George W. Bush. Director Michael Moore almost openly expressed his opinion about the president's involvement in organizing the September 9 attacks, as well as in unleashing the war in Iraq. The filmmaker's goal was to prevent the election of George W. Bush for a second presidential term, but was never able to influence the outcome of the election. But the picture became the highest-grossing documentary film in history.

"Matilda", Russia, 2017

Probably, there was no more scandalous film in the Russian box office. Historical melodrama from Alexei Uchitel, telling about the love story between the last Russian emperor and the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. The scandal erupted in November 2016, almost a year before the premiere of Matilda. One of the Christian organizations sent out letters demanding the management of cinemas to refuse to show the film. The film was accused of offending the feelings of believers, and the Orthodox Church was categorical in its response to "Matilda", calling the whole story "vulgarity and slander." Several statesmen tried to ban the film. As a result, the scandal surrounding the film led to its financial failure. A 2019 study showed that Matilda raised only 537 million rubles with a budget of 1.5 billion.

"Cargo 200", Russia, 2007

In the film by Alexei Balabanov, immediately after reading the script, Kirill Pirogov, Yevgeny Mironov and Sergey Makovetsky categorically refused to act. At the same time, the latter advised the director not to shoot "Cargo 200" at all. But the film was still released and drew very mixed reviews from both critics and ordinary viewers. Due to the many violent scenes, the Berlin and Cannes film festivals did not show "Cargo 200", and in Russia it is not recommended for showing on television.

"Borat", USA, UK, 2006

The full title of the film is translated into Russian as “Borat: Studying American Culture for the Benefit of the Glorious People of Kazakhstan,” and was directed by Larry Charles. The story of a TV presenter from Kazakhstan who went to the United States in search of Pamela Anderson, hiding behind a desire to make a documentary, could be quite harmless. In Russia and Kazakhstan, the film was banned for distribution, and many viewers who watched "Borat" considered it an insult to the people of Kazakhstan.

"In the rays of the sun", Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, Latvia, North Korea, 2015

Vitaly Mansky's documentary is unique in that it was filmed in North Korea and tells the story of the life of an eight-year-old girl. Permission to shoot in this country was obtained only on the condition that all the material would be endorsed by the leadership of North Korea. But Vitaly Mansky, editing the material for approval, recorded scenes that were unsuitable for the official version on a spare memory card. After the final version of the film was approved by the North Korean leadership, the film crew safely left the country. But the audience did not see this version of the picture on the screen. But a completely different film was released, which presented life in the DPRK as the director saw it. However, the film by Vitaly Mansky did not become a sensation, causing rather ambiguous assessments from the audience, many of whom reproached the creator for the lack of a script and any novelty. At the same time, the picture caused a political scandal: the DPRK expressed notes of protest in connection with the participation of the picture in film festivals, and the representatives of the country tried to disrupt the closed premiere.

"Number 44", USA, 2015

Director Daniel Espinosa positioned his film as a thriller, but in the end it turned out to be a kind of mixture of thriller and overt propaganda. Investigating a serial killer's crimes on screen could really be exciting and chilling at the same time. But the director and screenwriters were let down by the desire to show the historical events of the Great Patriotic War, as well as the time before and after its start, in the most negative light. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the premiere of the film was supposed to take place in April 2015, that is, in fact, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Victory. After a press preview and subsequent private viewing in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Russia, a Russian distributor and journalists, it was decided not to release the picture in Russian distribution. Later, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Georgia refused to show. The picture, on the production of which $ 50 million was spent, was able to collect only 600 thousand in the United States and 2.1 million at the international box office.

Very often lately, one can hear complaints about the fact that now they do not make films of the same quality as before. In fact, many really amazing films are shot in the world every year. To find out which films are truly great, BBC Culture editors polled 177 critics from different countries and from all continents except Antarctica.