By Joy Essien, Contributing Editor, Lagos Metropolitan.
The title "A Very Dirty Christmas’ was first met with reservation when it was first announced. With a few people hinting at the fact that the word "dirty" attached to "Christmas" could offend various Christian audiences. While some paused to really consider it, others dismissed it.
Soon as the movie was released, CAN, a religious body that has been silent on serious issues affecting the Christian community for years, finally found it’s voice and has called for an actual ban of the movie or that the name be changed, according to NFVCB. This is a movie that has already gone through edits, final cuts, the NFVCB approval and eventually submitted to the cinemas. The saddest part, money was taken from investors to make this movie and they would have to be paid back. How exactly is she supposed to change it’s title at this point, especially after the NFVCB okayed it because in their words, "the title was reviewed within it’s creative and fictional context?
It is very obvious CAN has no idea what it takes to produce and promote a movie. Sadly, the NFVCB, after much pressure from CAN, are backtracking on their approval. This is a very shameful act by the NFVCB and it makes it look like they do not fully understand the whole process to follow before approving a movie. As for CAN, the movie was first announced with it’s title. Then the teaser dropped, went viral and trailer released, still no reaction from CAN. Why did they wait for it to start screening at the cinema to find their voice?
The following questions beg to be answered.
*What are the criteria for banning films? *Where are they spelt out?
*Who determines what should be banned?
*Where do we stop?
*Are viewers boycotting the movie?
*Has CAN even seen the movie?
One thing is certain in all these. The whole episode with this movie exposes the weakness of CAN.
The movie was banned for the title and not the content. Banned without preview.
In Leke Alder’s words, "there are more important things for CAN to focus on. There’s the "non genocide" in the North, the crushing weight of multidimensional poverty on 130 million Nigerians, the sad existence of internally displaced Christians in IDP camps, the brand image of the clergy, and the inverse ratio of church proliferation to societal morality."
One good thing, though. The whole debacle has given the movie free marketing and publiciity that no billboard budget could ever cover. I just pray it translates to great ticket sales.
