'Death Of A President' Might Not Be Coming To A Cinema Near You Anytime Soon
Judy Ramsook
September 02, 2006
When a friend recently returned from a trip abroad, he asked me if I had heard of the movie about the fictional assassination of President George W Bush. Stunned, curious and not having heard or seen any previews of it on the continent, I answered no.
Then while looking at the evening news last night, lo and behold there was an item about the same move. There was no video clip involved, just a photo shot of a scene which depicted a group of Bush’s bodyguards and such and yes, a Bush look alike who, according to the piece had been assassinated by a Syrian rebel. The fictional assassination is set to take place in 2007, but will the movie be coming to a cinema near you?
According to the news report, no or at least not any time soon, due to the sensitive nature of the film.
Of course, this writer at once called up my friend and informed him that it does not look like the move will be shown in any US cinema any time in the near future, at which he stated, so where’s the freedom?
Well, apparently there are different levels of freedom of expression and speech. And given the sensitive issue of a president’s assassination although fictional in the movie, one can understand why it might be a while before it can even be thought of being aired in the US.
Made by British film maker, Gabriel Range, the controversial movie, 'Death Of A President' will air on British cable television on October 9th and will also make an appearance at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10th. As of this writing no one in the US has yet picked up the rights to the 90 minute flick.
Then while looking at the evening news last night, lo and behold there was an item about the same move. There was no video clip involved, just a photo shot of a scene which depicted a group of Bush’s bodyguards and such and yes, a Bush look alike who, according to the piece had been assassinated by a Syrian rebel. The fictional assassination is set to take place in 2007, but will the movie be coming to a cinema near you?
According to the news report, no or at least not any time soon, due to the sensitive nature of the film.
Of course, this writer at once called up my friend and informed him that it does not look like the move will be shown in any US cinema any time in the near future, at which he stated, so where’s the freedom?
Well, apparently there are different levels of freedom of expression and speech. And given the sensitive issue of a president’s assassination although fictional in the movie, one can understand why it might be a while before it can even be thought of being aired in the US.
Made by British film maker, Gabriel Range, the controversial movie, 'Death Of A President' will air on British cable television on October 9th and will also make an appearance at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10th. As of this writing no one in the US has yet picked up the rights to the 90 minute flick.
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