“Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.” Although this saying is not always accurate, it sometimes holds true. Since the beginning of cinema and television history, these media have been used to convey political, religious, philosophical, and sexual messages, and not just for enjoying a movie with the family before bedtime or as a source of millions of dollars for production companies. As a result, some films and TV series have crossed the red lines set by each country, ending up banned. However, this prohibition often makes the film even more famous. So in this video, I will present five films that were banned, and the ban made them more popular. Some of these films were banned for strange reasons. Please like and subscribe, and let’s start the episode.
First Film: Zoolander
“Zoolander” is a satirical comedy film released in 2001, directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars in the film. He plays the role of a dimwitted fashion model. The story revolves around Derek Zoolander, a successful but ignorant fashion model. However, his career is threatened when a new competitor named Hansel appears on the scene. The film “Zoolander” satirizes various aspects of the fashion industry, including its obsession with appearances and the superficiality of celebrity culture and the stakeholders behind the scenes. If you watch the film from start to finish, you might not notice any scene that could be the reason for its ban. But the Malaysian government had a completely different opinion; the main plot of the film involves an attempt to assassinate the Malaysian Prime Minister. Malaysian censors considered this scene offensive and potentially damaging to the country’s reputation, leading to the decision to temporarily ban and withdraw “Zoolander” from cinemas in Malaysia. Singapore also suspended the film’s screening to avoid upsetting its neighbor, Malaysia. This made “Zoolander” one of the many films subject to censorship, with different versions released worldwide.
Second Film: The Da Vinci Code
“The Da Vinci Code” is a film based on a novel by Dan Brown, which is the best-selling novel in the world under the same name. Interestingly, the novel also sparked controversy and was banned in many countries due to its provocative hypotheses. The film “The Da Vinci Code,” directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, was released in 2006. It faced significant controversy in many countries upon its release, with the reasons for the controversy varying based on cultural, religious, and political sensitivities. The story and the film present a fictional narrative involving a secret society protecting the true identity of Mary Magdalene, suggesting that she married Jesus Christ and bore his child. Note that Mary Magdalene is not Mary, the mother of Jesus. According to historical Christian accounts, Mary Magdalene is considered one of Christ’s most important disciples. The plot follows symbologist Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder at the Louvre Museum in Paris, uncovering clues that lead him to expose this ancient conspiracy. The idea presented in the film about Christ, Mary Magdalene, and the Christian Church caused great outrage and anger among Christians who considered it blasphemous, as the notion of Christ marrying and having children contradicts traditional Christian teachings. This is why priests and nuns do not marry, and those who can endure remain celibate until death. Consequently, many Christian denominations and groups found the film offensive and blasphemous. The controversy did not stop at media criticism; in many predominantly Christian countries, protests and demonstrations called for a boycott of the film. Due to popular pressure, some countries considered banning or censoring the film. For instance, in India, where religious sensitivity is deeply ingrained, several states briefly banned the film under the pretext of reviewing it by religious authorities.
Third Film: Barbie
Most of you have probably seen a poster, image, or post on social media discussing this film, especially since it was trending everywhere. The film is based on the popular “Barbie” doll, with Margot Robbie playing the main character who embarks on a road trip with Ken as they leave the magical land of Barbie to explore the real world. There, they discover the good and evil present in humanity. However, the film did not sit well with many countries and sparked controversy. Vietnam banned the film for a strange and surprising reason: they claimed that a caricatured map of the world displayed in one of the film’s scenes showed the disputed South China Sea. The map depicted a U-shaped line, indicating China’s territorial claims over a large portion of the South China Sea, a claim Vietnam rejects. The point is that Chinese maps use the nine-dash line to assert their claims over this region, despite international law rejecting this claim. The South China Sea is one of the busiest trade routes in the world, and several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, consider large areas of the South China Sea as their continental shelf. Vietnam was not alone in banning the film; several other countries, including Kuwait and Algeria, claimed the film promoted homosexuality and contradicted values related to faith and morality. Lebanon also joined the list, banning the film because it featured actors from the LGBTQ+ community, such as Scott Evans, Alexandra Shipp, and Hari Nef. Censors in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates suggested some edits to the film, delaying its original release on July 21.
Fourth Film: The Simpsons
The 2007 film “The Simpsons” is based on the long-running and famous series “The Simpsons.” The film revolves around the Simpson family’s life in Springfield, where life continues as usual for the family and town residents. However, this peaceful routine is disrupted when Homer Simpson’s selfish and irresponsible actions inadvertently lead to an environmental disaster. The pollution problem in Springfield reaches a critical point, endangering the lives of people and all living things, prompting the government to seal off the entire town under a giant, transparent dome. Feeling guilty for his role in the disaster, Homer embarks on a redemption journey to save his family and town. Throughout the film, the family faces various challenges and obstacles that they must confront with unity and cooperation. However, if you watch the film, you probably won’t find any logical reason for its ban. This is true; the film doesn’t contain anything inappropriate, and that’s why it was banned by only one country in the world: Myanmar. The reason for the ban is even laughable and absurd: the colors used in the film, specifically yellow and red. The only justification Myanmar gave its people was that, at the time of the film’s release, Myanmar was dealing with a rebel group, the National League for Democracy, which used red and yellow in its flag.
Fifth Film: Persepolis
“Persepolis” is an animated film released in 2007, based on a graphic novel of the same name by the French-Iranian author Marjane Satrapi. The film tells the story of Marjane’s childhood and adolescence in Iran, particularly before and after the Iranian Revolution. The film begins with a young Marjane growing up in Tehran, the capital of Iran, during the Shah’s rule. Marjane dreams of becoming a prophet to bring justice to the world. Her parents are progressive intellectuals, and with the outbreak of the Iranian Revolution, they support and participate in it, hoping for the establishment of a new democratic system that respects human rights and provides a decent living. However, all their dreams crumble when the Shah’s rule is replaced by an even worse, more oppressive regime. Fearing for her safety, her parents send Marjane to study in Vienna, Austria’s capital. There, Marjane struggles to adjust to her new life in a foreign country, feeling alienated and disconnected from her Iranian identity. Despite facing many challenges, Marjane perseveres and eventually returns to Iran, only to find her homeland has changed drastically, becoming even worse under an oppressive regime. Despite the hardships she endures, Marjane remains steadfast and determined to find her place in the world. Just from this brief summary of the film, you can already guess the country that banned it and urged its friends and allies to do the same. Yes, it’s the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian government under Khomeini banned the distribution and screening of the film, claiming it accused Iran of oppression, injustice, restricting freedom of expression, and imposing religious fundamentalism. Countries like Lebanon also censored the film, known for Iran’s significant influence there. However, the ban was eventually lifted after public protests and discussions with the Lebanese Ministry of Interior. The United Arab Emirates also censored the film due to its political content and portrayal of sensitive issues. Tunisia initially banned the film for the same reasons but later lifted the ban after negotiations with the authorities. Overall, “Persepolis” received critical acclaim for its artistic merits and powerful storytelling.
As a personal note, and not in defense of Iran—you’re already aware of my stance on Iran, which I consider the primary enemy of Arabs and Muslims, even before Israel. If we were to soften the criticism, we could say that Iran and Israel are two sides of the same coin. But the West’s specific defense of this film is not out of love for Iranians or their well-being. Marjane Satrapi is merely a pawn in a proxy war, used by the West as a tool to strike Iran on the international stage and tarnish its image before the world, just as they did with Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan. They took one girl from Pakistan, glorified her, and showcased her on international stages, publishing her books—not out of love for Pakistan, Pakistanis, or Pakistani women, but for specific political purposes where she is used as a card. So, do you really want me to believe that the West cares about women in Muslim, Arab, and African countries just for their beautiful eyes and desires good and a decent life for them? I really want to believe, but it’s hard to swallow. When did the West care about Pakistani and Iranian women enough to choose specific samples of them, glorify them, and then turn them into heroes? Meanwhile, millions of Pakistani and Iranian women, whom we never hear about, have died horrendous deaths. And this, of course, does not in any way negate that what is said in the film is true, and that Iran is an oppressive republic and one of the countries that most applies the death penalty by hanging in public squares for dissenters and innocents who did nothing. But films, as I said at the beginning, are a means to spread ideas, ideologies, and politics more than being projects that generate money.