Los Angeles: The recently premiered romance drama ‘It Ends With Us’, starring Blake Lively, has encountered a significant hurdle in Qatar. Reports from ‘Variety’ reveal that the film has been banned from theatrical release in the country due to its kissing scenes. The decision comes from Qatar’s stringent censorship committee, which has a history of blocking American films that do not align with its cultural and moral guidelines.
Directed by Justin Baldoni, who also stars alongside Lively, ‘It Ends With Us’ revolves around the life of Lily, a florist who falls for a neurosurgeon. However, complications arise when her childhood friend, played by Brandon Sklenar, re-emerges, sparking jealousy in her romantic partner, Ryle, and leading their relationship down a troubling path. The film is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s acclaimed novel, produced on a budget of only $25 million, and is anticipated to be commercially successful.
‘It Ends With Us’ is categorized as a PG-13 film in the United States, a rating that often suggests content suitable for older children accompanied by an adult. Despite this relatively lenient rating, the film’s inclusion of kissing scenes and a non-explicit sex scene—wherein characters remain in their undergarments—was enough to trigger the censor’s disapproval in Qatar.
Qatar is no stranger to banning films that clash with its conservative values. This instance mirrors several other high-profile bans. For instance, Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’, celebrated for its themes of female empowerment, and the animated superhero saga ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ also faced the axe. Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ and ‘Eternals’, both infused with less conservative themes, were similarly proscribed.
Moreover, the pattern doesn’t stop at PG-13 films. The R-rated comedy ‘No Hard Feelings’, starring Jennifer Lawrence who appears nude, was also considered inappropriate. Disney’s ‘Lightyear’, a ‘Toy Story’ spinoff featuring a gay kiss, and Pixar’s ‘Onward’, with its subtle nod to a lesbian character, were rejected too.
. Even ‘Anyone but You,’ starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, faced censorship for its passionate scenes.
In 2021, another noteworthy decision against American cinema came when Disney declined Qatar’s request for cuts to Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’. Censors took issue with the character Anybodys, a transgender role portrayed by non-binary actor Iris Menas, leading to the film’s exile from Qatari theaters.
The trend extends beyond Qatar. Films depicting LGBTQ characters or themes have regularly been subject to bans across other Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Entirely different geopolitical landscape notwithstanding, China’s stringent censorship policies similarly shape its film industry.
The banning of ‘It Ends With Us’ underscores a broader clash between Western cinema and conservative societies grappling with fast-paced social changes. While American filmmakers frequently include diverse narratives and progressive themes, censors in various countries continue to enforce restrictions based on their interpretations of morality and cultural appropriateness.
On the flip side, the commercial impact of such bans remains a variable factor. While these films may lose direct revenue streams from theatrical releases in certain regions, the global nature of digital streaming platforms provides an alternative route for accessing vast audiences. Streaming services, however, are not entirely free from censorship, as digital content often gets scrutinized under similar stringent guidelines.
For ‘It Ends With Us’, the barrier posed by Qatar’s censorship may seem like a setback, but the resonance of its universal themes of love, jealousy, and conflict has the potential to attract viewers worldwide. The film’s romantic plot and dramatic turns, paired with the star power of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, promise to captivate audiences across various markets, undeterred by regional censorship constraints.
In conclusion, while ‘It Ends With Us’ will not be seen in Qatari cinemas due to its contentious scenes, its global journey is far from over. As the film heads to other markets, it remains to be seen how it will fare amid contrasting cultural landscapes and censorship practices around the world.
