But, according to the Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times, Chinese internet users were quick to take offence, interpreting the image of Batwoman as a gesture of support for the protests in Hong Kong. The autonomous region has faced almost six months of intense political unrest due to the growing influence of China. The former British colony is meant to enjoy a “high degree of autonomy” under the terms of its 1997 handover from the UK, but the Chinese government regards Hong Kong as part of China.
“Is Hong Kong really becoming Gotham City? But Hong Kong rioters are not Batman. Instead, they are the criminals of Gotham City,” wrote one Weibo user, while others on the Chinese social media platform said they would refuse to buy or support anything from the comics giant in future.
Variety reported that Chinese internet users linked the flaming bottle to the tactics used by the mainly young protesters in Hong Kong, Batman’s black outfit to the black clothes of the demonstrators, and the titular golden child to the colour yellow, which pro-democracy activists adopted for protests held in Hong Kong five years ago.
“The black clothes represent Hong Kong, the mask represents Hong Kong, the Molotov cocktail represents Hong Kong, what else here doesn’t represent Hong Kong???” wrote one reader on Weibo.
The image has since been deleted from DC’s social media, although supporters of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong have continued to complain about the removal on its Twitter and Instagram accounts. Late on Wednesday Grampá, the comic’s illustrator, shared an image of it and described the controversy as surreal.
Out in December, The Golden Child sees Carrie Kelley “growing into her new role as Batwoman”, but “a terrifying evil has returned to Gotham City”. In order to stop it, Batwoman teams up with Lara Kent, the offspring of Superman and Wonder Woman, along with Lara’s younger brother Jonathan, who is known as “the golden child” for his strong superpowers.
The Guardian has approached DC Comics for comment.
CALLS TO BOYCOTT VUE CINEMAS OVER THE FILM BLUE STORY
Vue has 91 venues in the UK and Ireland, but could not confirm how many had been screening Blue Story.
Blue Story, a BBC-backed gang film, was banned from Vue cinemas following 25 'significant incidents' at 16 cinemas on the day it was released, including a mass brawl involving youths armed with knives and machetes outside a screening in Birmingham.
The film, about a postcode war in south London, will not be shown in any of the chain’s UK venues after a riot at the Star City multiplex in Birmingham on Saturday.
"The film opened in 60 of our sites across the UK and Ireland on Friday November 22, but during the first 24 hours of the film over 25 significant incidents were reported and escalated to senior management in 16 separate cinemas. This decision is not, as some have alleged, based on biased assumptions or concern about the content of the film itself, but on safety and welfare concerns.
At Vue, we believe passionately in bringing people together and using the power of the big screen experience to entertain, educate and inspire all of our audiences. Blue Story is a fantastic film and one with a very powerful message. It is a film that has the opportunity to change lives. We hope that Blue Story achieves the success it deserves and importantly its message does not get lost."
A BBC Films spokeswoman said: "We are appalled by the incident at Star City and our thoughts are with all those affected by it. Blue Story is an outstanding, critically acclaimed debut feature which powerfully depicts the futility of gang violence. "
Blue Story: Vue boss plans to ‘beef up security’ and restart screenings of banned film after machete brawl
Gang drama’s writer-director Rapman has welcomed the move. Ellie Harrison, The Independent, November 2019
The chief executive of Vue cinemas, Tim Richards, has said he plans to resume screenings of banned film Blue Story by the weekend.
Blue Story was removed from the company’s venues after a mass brawl broke out at Birmingham Star City, involving youths armed with machetes.
Vue said there had been 25 serious incidents in 16 of its cinemas.
The plan to restart screenings of Blue Story comes after the film’s writer-director Rapman questioned whether there were "hidden reasons" for the ban.
He told the BBC: “What's the owner like? Has he got an issue with young urban youth? Is he prejudiced?
"Does he believe that this film brings a certain type? Is there a colour thing?"
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
BFI Case Study here
BFI Case Study here
FIGHT CLUB
BFI Case Study here
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
BFI Case Study here
From the Anthony Burgess novel, Kubrick’s scathing satire set in a dystopian society in the not too distant future predictably caused controversy on release and has continued to do so through the subsequent decades, with one reviewer accusing Kubrick of making “intellectual pornography”. Disturbed by reports that the stylised violence in the film had provoked copycat crimes, Kubrick withdrew the film in Britain in 1973, and it wasn’t made available again until 2000, a year after his death. Even now, A Clockwork Orange still divides opinions, and as the recent revival demonstrated, in an era when audiences have long been conditioned to extreme violence on film, hasn’t lost the power to shock, while still raising as many questions as answers about morality, free will, and authority.
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