While the world is eagerly waiting for the release of Warner Bros' upcoming movie Barbie, the movie has garnered global attention for the wrong reasons. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the lead roles, Barbie is directed by Academy Award nominee Greta Gerwig. Gerta has also co-written it alongside her partner, Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach. Margot Robbie plays the character of Barbie while, Ryan Gosling plays the character of Ken. As the trailer suggests, Barbie is a fictional story portraying Robbie and Gosling as dolls who got kicked out of 'Barbie land' for not being perfect. Robbie decides to head out into the human world to try and find her happiness which is when the craziness ensues. Barbie is releasing worldwide on July 21, 2023, however, the movie has been banned in Vietnam. Yes! you heard it right. Going by the reports, Vietnam has banned the movie Barbie for showing controversial ‘9 dash line’ in the South China Sea. To know what actually Barbie showcased, continue reading-
Why Vietnam banned Barbie?
In one of the scenes of Barbie's trailer, the makers have shown ‘9 dash line’ in the world map. Interestingly, the makers of Barbie have shown the same map that China uses to claim most parts of the South China Sea. To be precise, the map appears at the 1-minute mark in the official trailer of the film. For those who are unaware, the U-shaped’ 9 dash line’ is used by China to claim vast areas of the South China Sea. Notably, China also claims its authority over an area that Vietnam considers to be its continental shelf. In this area, Vietnam has been awarded oil concessions. It is pertinent to mention here that an international arbitration ruling by a court in The Hague has denied China's claims over that particular area in 2016. However, China never accepted the ruling and often intrude into Vietnam's airspace.
Notably, it is not the first time, Vietnam has banned any movie even before its release due to the same reasons. As per reports, in 2019, the Vietnam government banned DreamWorks’ animated film ‘Abominable’, and in 2022, it banned Sony’s action movie ‘Unchartered’ for the same reason. In 2021, Netflix dropped an Australian spy drama’ Pine Gap’ over the map issue. Vietnamese local news paper quoted Vi Kien Thanh, director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department, saying that the National Film Evaluation Council made the decision. It said a map in the film shows China’s “nine-dash line,” which extends Beijing’s territorial claims far into waters that fall within areas claimed by Vietnam and other countries.
What fans said on Barbie ban?
A user wrote, "I read that Vietnam banned the Barbie movie over it containing a map depicting the Nine Dash Line, which was odd enough on its own, but nothing could have prepared me for this being the offending shot"
I read that Vietnam banned the Barbie movie over it containing a map depicting the Nine Dash Line, which was odd enough on its own, but nothing could have prepared me for this being the offending shot https://t.co/P2WcDYWDRp
— Taras (not from the USA) (@Stellaratum) July 3, 2023
"Vietnam has banned Warner Bros' film 'Barbie' from domestic distribution over a scene featuring a map that shows China's unilaterally claimed territory. China's controversial nine-dash line was repudiated in an international arbitration," wrote another user.
Another user wrote, "The Board of MTRCB has already reviewed Greta Gerwig’s ‘BARBIE’ for rating and classification but is yet to announce their decision. Vietnam already banned the film for featuring scenes with a map showing China’s nine-dash-line claiming the territory of the South China Sea."