movies

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS Feed or sign up for free updates via email. Thanks for visiting!

A British film about Charles Darwin has failed to find a US distributor because his theory of evolution is too controversial for American audiences, according to its producer.

Creation, the biopic about Charles Darwin is too controversial for religious America? As SNL’s Amy Poehler used to say on Weekend Update: “Really!….Really!”

I can not believe that is really a problem in the U.S. I mean I’ve heard the freak stories of school boards in weird small towns demanding that evolution not be taught to students, but this is getting ridiculous.

This is just a movie… about Charles Darwin. How afraid can you be?

No matter how religious you are, if you are afraid of a movie…and openly declare you’re boycotting it (or in this instance, refusing to distribute it) you will only serve to enhance its standing.

I’m just flabbergasted that anyone still has a problem with evolution in 2009. But fine, if you want to keep your kids from learning it, and want to believe that the Flintstones were real…that’s your prerogative.

Here’s what Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas had to say in the Telegraph UK article:

…he was astonished that such attitudes exist 150 years after On The Origin of Species was published.

“That’s what we’re up against. In 2009. It’s amazing,” he said.

“The film has no distributor in America. It has got a deal everywhere else in the world but in the US, and it’s because of what the film is about. People have been saying this is the best film they’ve seen all year, yet nobody in the US has picked it up.

“It is unbelievable to us that this is still a really hot potato in America. There’s still a great belief that He made the world in six days. It’s quite difficult for we in the UK to imagine religion in America. We live in a country which is no longer so religious. But in the US, outside of New York and LA, religion rules.

“Charles Darwin is, I suppose, the hero of the film. But we tried to make the film in a very even-handed way. Darwin wasn’t saying ‘kill all religion’, he never said such a thing, but he is a totem for people.”

Hmm…it’s a sad state of affairs.

The movie stars Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connolly, and hopefully will be playing at a theater near you. Here’s the trailer:

{ 13 comments }