Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: Bruno Banned in Malaysia
Malaysia has just joined the Ukraine, Lebanon and the Bahamas in banning Bruno – the gay sexcapade/ insightful look at homophobia in America. I am a great defender of Bruno and understand that the film – made to shock American sense- was likely not going to receive a huge welcome from many international audiences.
That said, how crazy that Malaysia bans this movie, not because of the graphic nudity, not because of the language or sex scenes, but because it is based on gay life and contrary to the culture?
That just seems like a bad pr move to me.
Malaysia is a country where being gay is outlawed, but the reality is there are a number of gay pockets that live without the kind of persecution common in other predominantly Muslim countries. Couldn’t they refuse to inflame the issue more by using the graphic sex excuse and closing debate.
It is yet another example of how politicians are more than willing to engage in and inflame the debate about gay rights – using it as a galvanizing point for the more conservative and a polarizing force, both in Malaysia… and in the U.S.
One more thing, to the creator of this article. This is NOT GAY LIFE!! how could you say that this is in any way an accurate representation of how any of us live our lives. Thats whats sad
Wow.. very well put Yhitzak, I couldnt have said it better myself. People think that prancing around in a thong at a gay pride event is going to lead to equality. Thats a sore misconception. Showing that we are no different than an average man is what will make progress. Movies like this make me sick. People will never see us a equals when assholes like cohen are running around.
If ‘Bruno’ is based on “gay life,” then I am NOT gay. And I’m proud of that. Cohen does not make insightful films, he makes shock movies. How is portraying ANYONE as an over-the-top diva an accurate representation of the “community” on the whole? It’s not representation, it’s exploitation, and that is EXACTLY what Cohen does: he exploits other people to make money. And I hate to say it, but part of the reason so many people and countries around the world hate homosexuality is because of characters/personalities who go out of their way to showcase their sexuality and promote libertinage. Yes, characters like Bruno actually DO exist within the gay realm, but they are a gross minority and should never be showcased as anything other than a gross minority. Yes, people should perceive sexual irresponsibility as the problem, NOT homosexuality. As long as gay people portray themselves or allow themselves to be portrayed in a manner such as ‘Bruno,’ the world will continue to see us as a lot of amoral, over-the-top libertines. As long as this portrayal continues, homophobic peoples around the globe will continue to have a defense for their homophobia. It might be wrong (and I certainly think that it is), but it’s the way that people are. Standing athwart that notion doesn’t change it.
This time Malaysia has it right. I am gay and i think this movie must have been funded by the conservative wrong, ie., right. This movie was terribly offensive. As ryanfye suggested earlier, i too wish they had banned it here. I wish enough people would have beeen sufficiently offended by the movie from the trailers that they would not have attended – too late for that. At least you can send a letter to the producers of this movie to let them know you won’t attend his next movie as a protest over this one.
I wish it was banned here
Well hey,I was shocked that it was number one opening week. I got a few of my friends to go to the opening in really queeny outfits for the special occasion. (Black guys usually don’t wear booty hugging jeans and high heeled womens cowboy boots too much in my neck of the woods, even if I do live in Texas LOL)
Of course we immediatly got trouble at the box office even though we’d bought our tickets earlier that day, but we spoke to management and got in to see a movie more flaming than the outfit
i had on.