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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/25/blue-story-pulled-second-cinema-chain-brawl-showcase
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| Blue Story pulled from second cinema chain after 'machete' brawl | Blue Story pulled from second cinema chain after 'machete' brawl |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Claims of overreaction to Birmingham clash as police say decision not based on official advice | |
| A second cinema chain has pulled a film about warring gangs from its screens after a mass brawl involving teenagers armed with machetes in Birmingham. | A second cinema chain has pulled a film about warring gangs from its screens after a mass brawl involving teenagers armed with machetes in Birmingham. |
| Showcase said it would no longer show Blue Story at its 21 venues in the UK after Vue withdrew the movie from nearly 100 cinemas on Sunday. | Showcase said it would no longer show Blue Story at its 21 venues in the UK after Vue withdrew the movie from nearly 100 cinemas on Sunday. |
| The decision, which was criticised by some as an overreaction and was not based on police advice, came after a disturbance involving up to 100 youngsters at the Star City leisure complex on Saturday night. | |
| Six teenagers, including a 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy, were arrested after what West Midlands police described as “maybe the worst thing” its officers had seen. | Six teenagers, including a 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy, were arrested after what West Midlands police described as “maybe the worst thing” its officers had seen. |
| Four of those teenagers were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police and a fifth was held for obstructing police, all of whom were further arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. | Four of those teenagers were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police and a fifth was held for obstructing police, all of whom were further arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. |
| Those five have been released on bail with conditions that ban them from leaving home at night and prohibit them from visiting Star City or any cinema in the UK. | Those five have been released on bail with conditions that ban them from leaving home at night and prohibit them from visiting Star City or any cinema in the UK. |
| Seven police officers sustained minor facial injuries and had to draw Tasers to bring the riot under control, as other cinemagoers screamed and ran. Many of those present were families with young children who were there to watch Frozen II. | Seven police officers sustained minor facial injuries and had to draw Tasers to bring the riot under control, as other cinemagoers screamed and ran. Many of those present were families with young children who were there to watch Frozen II. |
| Police said two machetes and a knife were recovered from the scene, in the Nechells district of Birmingham, and further arrests would be made in the next 24 hours. | Police said two machetes and a knife were recovered from the scene, in the Nechells district of Birmingham, and further arrests would be made in the next 24 hours. |
| Chief Supt Steve Graham of West Midlands police said that the decision to stop screening the film was not based on official advice. “We’ve made no recommendations to Vue at all,” he said. “If they choose to continue showing it, that’s a matter for them.” | |
| Blue Story, released on Friday, tells the story of a violent street rivalry in south London. It is rated 15 for very strong language, strong violence, threats, sex, and drug misuse. | Blue Story, released on Friday, tells the story of a violent street rivalry in south London. It is rated 15 for very strong language, strong violence, threats, sex, and drug misuse. |
| The film’s director, Andrew Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, said Blue Story was “about love, not violence” and that he hoped the blame for the disorder was “placed with the individuals and not an indictment of the film itself”. | The film’s director, Andrew Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, said Blue Story was “about love, not violence” and that he hoped the blame for the disorder was “placed with the individuals and not an indictment of the film itself”. |
| He added: “Sending love to all those involved in yesterday’s violence at Star City in Birmingham. It’s truly unfortunate that a small group of people can ruin things for everybody. I pray that we can all learn to live with love and treat each other with tolerance and respect.” | He added: “Sending love to all those involved in yesterday’s violence at Star City in Birmingham. It’s truly unfortunate that a small group of people can ruin things for everybody. I pray that we can all learn to live with love and treat each other with tolerance and respect.” |
| BBC Films described Blue Story as an “outstanding, critically acclaimed debut feature which powerfully depicts the futility of gang violence. It’s an important film from one of the UK’s most exciting new filmmakers which we’re proud to be part of.” | BBC Films described Blue Story as an “outstanding, critically acclaimed debut feature which powerfully depicts the futility of gang violence. It’s an important film from one of the UK’s most exciting new filmmakers which we’re proud to be part of.” |
| Its distributor, Paramount Pictures, said though it was “saddened” by events at Star City, Blue Story was “an important film” that had had “incredibly positive reaction and fantastic reviews”. | Its distributor, Paramount Pictures, said though it was “saddened” by events at Star City, Blue Story was “an important film” that had had “incredibly positive reaction and fantastic reviews”. |
| The decision to pull the film provoked angry criticism on Twitter, where the film was the third most talked about topic on Sunday afternoon. | The decision to pull the film provoked angry criticism on Twitter, where the film was the third most talked about topic on Sunday afternoon. |
| “From what I can see, Vue Cinema’s decision to ban Blue Story from all of their cinemas is at best disproportionate and at worst blatant racism,” said one user called Jonathan. | “From what I can see, Vue Cinema’s decision to ban Blue Story from all of their cinemas is at best disproportionate and at worst blatant racism,” said one user called Jonathan. |
| Charlene White, the ITV News presenter, tweeted: “Seriously @vuecinemas?! Clearly an isolated incident at one of your locations, but you choose to blame @BlueStoryMovie & ban it from ALL your venues. Utterly ridiculous. Congrats on your achievements @RealRapman. Your hard work isn’t forgotten by those of us with common sense.” | Charlene White, the ITV News presenter, tweeted: “Seriously @vuecinemas?! Clearly an isolated incident at one of your locations, but you choose to blame @BlueStoryMovie & ban it from ALL your venues. Utterly ridiculous. Congrats on your achievements @RealRapman. Your hard work isn’t forgotten by those of us with common sense.” |