The cover for the American DVD release of Pride has removed all mention of homosexuality.
The film, about a group of gay and lesbian activists who rallied in support of striking miners in the 1980s, was released in the UK to acclaim last year.
However, the US DVD cover makes a number of shocking changes, entirely removing homosexuality from the story...
Pink News - thought I'd nick a story off them for a change, rather than vice versa (though at least I give credit for my sources). Can't be arsed to check it, so it could be balls.
The film also fails to mention The Sun was behind a smear campaign against LGSM.
Thus this is just a paper - the movie is distributed by Murdoch's Fox, coincidentally.
The real question is not how a DVD cover excised The Gays, but how the film makes two great political struggles seem so anodyne.
Update: The film’s director, Matthew Warchus said he “understands”, that it was a “clumsy”, but a “valid” marketing strategy.
“Changing the cover is kind of clumsy and a bit foolish,” he told BBC Radio 5’s Phil Williams.
“But this is a film that is loved by people of all political persuasions and sexual orientations.
“I’m just keen for as many people who have yet to see the film to see it.”
Continuing, he said he “didn’t want to preach to the converted” and that he wanted the film “to find a mainstream audience [and] broaden people’s minds.' via Pink News.
The real question is not how a DVD cover excised The Gays, but how the film makes two great political struggles seem so anodyne.
Update: The film’s director, Matthew Warchus said he “understands”, that it was a “clumsy”, but a “valid” marketing strategy.
“Changing the cover is kind of clumsy and a bit foolish,” he told BBC Radio 5’s Phil Williams.
“But this is a film that is loved by people of all political persuasions and sexual orientations.
“I’m just keen for as many people who have yet to see the film to see it.”
Continuing, he said he “didn’t want to preach to the converted” and that he wanted the film “to find a mainstream audience [and] broaden people’s minds.' via Pink News.
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Not so much pride in this Pride, clearly.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome film that made me laugh, cry, get angry, then laugh again, and played a significant part in reawakening the activist in me.
ReplyDeleteTo see it sanitised in this way is an affront to everything the film stands for.
Perhaps the silver lining here is that it may been seen and have some influence on people who might otherwise have been reluctant to watch it.