I was reveling last week at the composure exhibited by Britain in reactions related to their recent terrorist experience. The Daily Show ran a story Monday about the country’s relatively nonchalant behavior in comparison with American responses to tragedies such as 9/11; there were no surges in Union Jack sales or “Never Forget” bumper stickers, although some might attempt to claim the U.S. got it worse (the same self-absorbed some who are now worried about subway attacks here). Regardless, we are certainly more consumed by our disasters, and often our collective distress is evident in Hollywood’s decisions to protect moviegoers by holding back releases that could evoke the pain.
The British, though, have no problems with Warner Brothers’ fall movie V for Vendetta, a comic book adaptation about terrorists in a totalitarian England. The film, which stars Natalie Portman, even features a subway bombing shot on location in the London Underground last month. Although nearly four months will pass before audiences will get to look at that scene, it appears from the lack of concern that it would make no difference were it released today.
Unfortunately, some Brits are in fact uptight, as shown by organizers of the Cambridge Film Festival who decided that out of respect to the victims of London’s bombings, screenings of the award-winning Arabic film Paradise Now should be cancelled this past weekend. That film tells the story of two Palestinian suicide bombers, which really isn’t relatable to the acts in London. Tickets had already been sold for the screenings and patrons were refunded their money. There is no mention in the press whether any of the ticket holders had lost interest in the film following the bombings. I doubt none of them had. The decision to omit the film from the festival had come about from talks with local authorities and police, not intelligent cineastes who typically frown on censorship, especially from organizations that supposedly founded in the support of the arts.
SC: Tan The Man
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