Moviegoers are excited for the upcoming live-action film Barbie. However, it looks like the upcoming movie is now being banned in Vietnam due to its usage of a South China Sea map which happens to depict the “nine dash line.”
As noted by Variety, the “nine dash line” is “a representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Vietnam says violates its sovereignty.” Thus the National Film Evaluation Council decided to ban the film from being released in Vietnam.
They quoted the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper which cited Vi Kien Thanh, director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism regarding the ban:
“We do not grant license for the American movie ‘Barbie‘ to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line,” the newspaper reads.
They’ve explained the history behind the “nine dash line” and why the Vietnam government is upset by its inclusion in Barbie:
“Many of China’s neighbors, including Vietnam, have competing and overlapping territorial claims and strongly dispute China’s assertions. In 2016, a United Nations disputes resolution tribunal in The Hague ruled unanimously against the validity of the ‘nine dash line.’ However, while the South China Sea arbitration was final and binding, there are no clear mechanisms for its implementation and China has said it does not recognize the decision.”
It seems that Barbie isn’t the first movie to be banned for such a reason in Vietnam. Of course, it doesn’t bode well for the film’s box office intake to be banned regardless.
Barbie was directed by Greta Gerwig, who also co-wrote the film’s script with her partner Noah Baumbach. Margot Robbie will also produce the film via LuckyChap along with Tom Ackerley. Mattel’s Robbie Brenner and David Heyman for Heyday Films will also produce. LuckyChap’s Josey McNamara and Mattel’s Ynon Kreiz are attached to the project as executive producers.
In addition to Margot Robbie as the titular Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the film’s ensemble cast also includes Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Hari Nef, and Will Ferrell.
Fans will be able to see Barbie on the big screen on July 21, 2023. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the film as we have them.