'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker': Same-sex kiss censored in Middle East, makes it to China
'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' is here, and fans can hardly contain their excitement. The film is the ninth in the space saga and is the conclusion to the Skywalker saga (or so they say). The film has received mixed reactions from fans, while some tag it as 'horrific', others have said it was the perfect finale.
Apart from many other things, the film is expected to include the first same-sex kiss in its franchise. Director JJ Abrams had dropped subtle hints about LGBTQ representation in the final installment of the space-opera saga.
Interestingly, according to The Hollywood Reporter, this scene did not make it to the Middle East screenings, though it made it to China. NBC News reports that some were surprised to see the uncensored kiss in China. While homosexuality is not illegal in China, the constraints regarding depictions of LGBTQ have been rather inconsistent. 'Call Me By Your Name' was not released in China, and 10 minutes of cuts were demanded from 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Some audience members in China welcomed the scene, while others were rather perplexed about its relevance to the story. "Seriously, it was perplexing. The two characters are not lovers. Or their relationship is more noble than that of lovers," wrote a user on a Baidu discussion forum.
Several members of the audience, who saw the film in Dubai, reported that the scene featuring the kiss had been removed from the screening. This is not the first time that films have been censored to suit the sensitivities of the Middle East, where homosexuality is considered illegal in most countries and rarely portrayed on screen.
In fact, any sort of heterosexual romance has faced the scissors as well, including the kiss between Chadwick Boseman and Lupita N'yongo from 'Black Panther (2018). The Marvel film is said to be the first to be screened theatrically in Saudi Arabia, after a 35-year ban. Forty-five minutes of 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' were censored and the movie considered practically unwatchable.
Directed by JJ Abrams, 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' hit the screens on December 20.
