Who knew that a movie about the famous doll would become the latest source of tensions in the South China Sea, a flashpoint for territorial disputes between Beijing and some of its closest Southeast Asian neighbors? Vietnam has banned the release of Warner Bros’ Barbie film, starring Margot Robbie as the iconic character and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken because it includes a map of the disputed region that shows China’s so-called Nine-Dash Line.
The U-shaped line shows China’s claim to the South China Sea, including waters close to Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Malaysia. It’s the latest in a long list of Hollywood movies and K-Pop blockbusters that have angered Hanoi over their depictions of the sea. The upcoming Avengers: Endgame and the new tour by popular K-Pop band BlackPink are just two other examples.
According to state media, the movie’s distributor in Vietnam was told by authorities not to show the film to theaters because it included the controversial map. It was also forbidden to promote the film with posters and billboards containing the map. It’s the same reason why many other films have been blocked or removed from cinemas in Vietnam for similar images of the contested area.
In a statement to Variety, a Warner Bros spokesperson said that the company did not intend for the Barbie film to make any political statement by including the map. The studio added that the image is a “child-like crayon drawing” that does not represent any assertion or position on the issue of sovereignty in the South China Sea. The company is still determining whether it can get the film back into theaters in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Philippine censors have decided to let the film be shown in the country’s cinemas after asking its Hollywood distributor to blur the map. The fantasy comedy film about the famous doll, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is set to open in the Southeast Asian nation on July 19. After reviewing the film twice and consulting foreign affairs officials and legal experts, the government’s Movie and Television Review and Classification Board agreed to let it be screened.
The censors’ decision has sparked outrage from groups that defend the rights of Filipino fishermen to the South China Sea, home to some of the world’s busiest sea lanes. The group representing fisherfolks has called for the film to be banned or edited, saying it violates their rights and promotes a fabricated narrative on the disputed sea. The country is on the frontlines of the dispute, and its navy has complained about harassment by Chinese vessels. The Philippines’ president summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest after a ship was accused of directing military-grade laser lights at a Filipino fishing boat in disputed waters.
