In a resolute stand, Warner Bros. has justified a scene in the forthcoming Barbie movie that incited its prohibition in Vietnam. The discord resulted from a map appearing in the film that delineates China’s territorial dominions in the South China Sea, featuring the contentious “nine-dash” line. Warner Bros. maintains their artistic choice, underlining that the map was designed to resemble a child’s crayon sketch. The studio elucidates that it was conceived to symbolize Barbie’s whimsical expedition from the fictional Barbie Land to the actual world. Warner Bros. also clarified through Variety, a reputable news outlet, that the map was devoid of any intention of presenting a stance.
“The map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing. The doodles depict Barbie’s make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the ‘real world.’ It was not intended to make any type of statement.” Stated Warner Bros.
The forthcoming Barbie is a fantasy-comedy film that revitalizes the cherished fashion doll. Greta Gerwig, acclaimed for her directorial ventures Lady Bird and Little Women, helms this film. With A-list actress Margot Robbie as the lead, Barbie is envisioned as an exciting undertaking for both Gerwig and moviegoers. Vietnam, having a historical contention with China, has upheld a strict rule to reject any film depicting the “nine-dash” line from screening in its theaters. This prohibition has impacted other films such as Uncharted. While certain films can undertake edits or adjustments to respect cultural nuances in specific countries, no such accommodation seems to have been settled in Barbie’s case concerning Vietnam.
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Despite the Vietnamese ban, Barbie is predicted to leave a profound impression on the box office during its debut weekend. Industry pundits are forecasting a domestic gross between $70-80 million, which would outpace expected earnings of big summer hits such as The Flash. The film’s unique premise has sparked curiosity among viewers, but it seems that irrespective of the demographic, the film has generated widespread anticipation. Standing in contrast is Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, a reflective story revolving around the atomic bomb, which is projected to accumulate around $40 million in the same opening weekend. The film’s somber and true-to-life narrative contrasts with Barbie’s vibrant and imaginative universe, drawing a different viewer demographic.
Barbie is enriched with an impressive ensemble cast, including esteemed actors Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Other noteworthy names are Emma Mackey, familiar for her roles in Sex Educations and Death on the Nile, America Ferrera, who starred in Superstore and Ugly Betty, and a host of others, including Kate McKinnon, Ariana Greenblatt, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman, Emerald Fennell, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Connor Swindells, Ritu Arya, Jamie Demetriou, Marisa Abela, and Will Ferrell who plays the CEO of Mattel.
The cinematic debut of Barbie is imminent, slated to illuminate the silver screens on July 21. As such, the film is anticipated to invite much fanfare despite the controversies that have sprung up around its representation of geopolitical realities. In this sense, the world of Barbie exemplifies the adage that “all publicity is good publicity,” and time will tell whether this proves to be the case.
