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Cinemas criticised for pulling gang film after Birmingham brawl Cinemas criticised for pulling gang film after Birmingham brawl
(30 minutes later)
Claims of overreaction to Birmingham clash as police say decision not based on official adviceClaims of overreaction to Birmingham clash as police say decision not based on official advice
Two leading cinema chains are facing a backlash over their decision to pull a film about warring gangs after a mass brawl involving teenagers armed with machetes in Birmingham. Two leading cinema chains are facing a backlash over their decision to withdraw a film about warring gangs after a mass brawl involving teenagers armed with machetes in Birmingham.
West Midlands police are investigating what sparked the fight involving up to 100 youngsters but said it was “not jumping to any conclusions” or formally connecting it to the film, Blue Story. West Midlands police are investigating what sparked the fight involving up to 100 young people but said it was “not jumping to any conclusions” or formally connecting it to the film, Blue Story.
Ch Supt Steve Graham stressed that the force did not ask for the movie to be withdrawn by Vue and Showcase cinemas following the disturbance at the Star City leisure complex on Saturday night. Ch Supt Steve Graham stressed that the force did not ask for the movie to be withdrawn by Vue and Showcase cinemas after the disturbance at the Star City leisure complex on Saturday night.
Footage on social media appeared to show people fighting in the foyer area of the cinema, where families and children were queuing to watch Frozen II, while witnesses said some of those involved tried to force their way into screening rooms without paying.Footage on social media appeared to show people fighting in the foyer area of the cinema, where families and children were queuing to watch Frozen II, while witnesses said some of those involved tried to force their way into screening rooms without paying.
A police spokeswoman said on Wednesday that investigations were ongoing but that it was not clear whether any violence took place inside a screening of Blue Story, which was released on Friday. A police spokeswoman said it was not clear whether any violence took place inside a screening of Blue Story, which was released on Friday.
Showcase said it would no longer show the movie 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 the movie at its 21 venues in the UK after Vue withdrew the movie from nearly 100 cinemas on Sunday.
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.
However, the decision to pull Blue Story from cinemas has provoked a fierce backlash. The Guardian has pressed Vue and Showcase for more detail about why they have pulled the film in the absence of a formal link to the violence. However, the decision to pull Blue Story from cinemas has provoked a backlash. The Guardian has pressed Vue and Showcase for more detail about why they have pulled the film in the absence of a formal link to the violence.
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.”
Others on social media accused the cinema chains of racism. “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.Others on social media accused the cinema chains of racism. “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.
Umar Kankiya, a solicitor and co-founder of the group Dope Black Dads, which aims to challenge negative perceptions of black fathers, said he felt there was “something a little bit more sinister underlying all of this”.Umar Kankiya, a solicitor and co-founder of the group Dope Black Dads, which aims to challenge negative perceptions of black fathers, said he felt there was “something a little bit more sinister underlying all of this”.
He told the Guardian: “I don’t want to label any institution to be racist without firm evidence that they are. It’s a very dangerous thing to say: ‘I think this institution is racist’ when I don’t have any real foundation to say that. Arguably you can make a lot of inferences from their behaviour but I think it’s incumbent on them to come out and explain their reasons and why they have made the decision they have.”He told the Guardian: “I don’t want to label any institution to be racist without firm evidence that they are. It’s a very dangerous thing to say: ‘I think this institution is racist’ when I don’t have any real foundation to say that. Arguably you can make a lot of inferences from their behaviour but I think it’s incumbent on them to come out and explain their reasons and why they have made the decision they have.”
Kankiya has written to Vue demanding an explanation for their withdrawal and said the cinema chain was “withholding the ability to show black art and black artists” Kankiya has written to Vue to demand an explanation for the withdrawal, and said the cinema chain was “withholding the ability to show black art and black artists”.
He said: “Why have Vue Cinemas made that unilateral decision to withdraw the film from all 91 cinemas across the country? I can appreciate the incident happened in Birmingham – maybe there’s an issue there that they needed to address in that particular cinema – but they then took the decision to strip it away from all the other 90 cinemas across the country and that’s where the issue lies.”He said: “Why have Vue Cinemas made that unilateral decision to withdraw the film from all 91 cinemas across the country? I can appreciate the incident happened in Birmingham – maybe there’s an issue there that they needed to address in that particular cinema – but they then took the decision to strip it away from all the other 90 cinemas across the country and that’s where the issue lies.”
Vic Santoro, one of the actors in Blue Story, said the film did not glorify street gangs or violence and was “completely opposite to the stigma that’s been attached to it due to the unfortunate incident that took place in Birmingham”. “It casts light on the harsh reality of London. Hopefully it serves as a deterrent to young people rather than encourage them,” he told BBC Radio 5Live. Vic Santoro, one of the actors in Blue Story, said the film did not glorify street gangs or violence and was “completely opposite to the stigma that’s been attached to it due to the unfortunate incident that took place in Birmingham”.
“It casts light on the harsh reality of London. Hopefully it serves as a deterrent to young people rather than encourage them,” he told BBC Radio 5Live.
Four of the teenagers arrested were held 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 the teenagers arrested were held 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.
Graham said 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.”Graham said 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 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.
Showcase said the safety of its guests was of the utmost importance and that “due to the recent incidents tied to screenings of the film” it had immediately withdrawn the film from all of its participating cinemas. Showcase said the safety of its guests was paramount and that owing to “the recent incidents tied to screenings of the film” it had immediately withdrawn Blue Boy from all of its participating cinemas.
It added: “We remain in discussions with the distributor with regards to the possibility of re-introducing the film in due course. We apologise for any inconvenience but guest safety remains our top priority.” It added: “We remain in discussions with the distributor with regards to the possibility of reintroducing the film in due course. We apologise for any inconvenience but guest safety remains our top priority.”
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”.