Vietnam has taken the unprecedented step of banning the highly-anticipated film Barbie from domestic distribution, citing a scene featuring a map that shows China’s unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea. The move is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Vietnamese government to prevent the depiction of China’s controversial nine-dash line, a U-shaped boundary that highlights Beijing’s claims over vast areas of the South China Sea.
According to state media, the decision to ban Barbie was made by the department of cinema, a government body responsible for licencing and censoring foreign films. The head of the department, Vi Kien Thanh, was quoted as saying that the film contains the “offending image” of the nine-dash line, which has sparked concerns and tensions in the region. Vietnam has long been at odds with China over the South China Sea, with both countries claiming overlapping territorial rights.
The Barbie ban is the latest in a string of actions taken by the Vietnamese government to prevent the depiction of the nine-dash line. Last year, Sony’s action movie Unchartered was banned for the same reason, while DreamWorks’ animated film Abominable was pulled in 2019. Even Netflix has not been immune to the controversy, removing an Australian spy drama Pine Gap in 2021 due to its depiction of the nine-dash line.
Vietnam Bans Barbie Film
Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was originally slated to open in Vietnam on July 21st, the same date as in the United States. However, the film’s release has been halted due to the controversy surrounding the map scene. Warner Bros, the studio behind the film, has yet to comment on the ban.
The move has sparked concerns over the impact on Vietnam’s relationship with China, as well as the implications for freedom of expression and artistic creativity. The South China Sea has long been a contentious issue, with a 2016 international arbitration ruling rejecting China’s claims over the territory. However, China has refused to recognize the ruling, leading to continued tensions in the region.
As the dispute between Vietnam and China continues to simmer, it remains to be seen how the ban on Barbie will affect the region’s delicate dynamics. For now, the film’s release in Vietnam is unlikely, at least until further decisions are made by the government and the studio.
