Monday, September 14, 2009

Darwin Film Not Distributed


The film selected to open the Toronto International Film Festival this year is called Creation and it details the period during which Darwin wrote his On the Origin of Species. The film starts real-life couple, Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly.
This apparently strong film has failed to find a US distributor since, according to the producer, Darwin's theory of evolution is too controversial for American audiences.

"Jeremy Thomas, the Oscar-winning producer of Creation, said 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."

You may read more here.





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9 comments:

Sra said...

Sometimes... well, ok, a lot of times... this country is just ridiculous.

Dana said...

I don't really get why a Darwin film would be an issue. I mean, what's next to be challenged, gravity?

Anonymous said...

Incredible. Just incredible.

Liam said...

this is where the USA's age-induced immaturity shines through. i guess we have to cut a country a mere 233 years old a little slack.

Becca said...

The evolution/creationism debate can best be understood by being in this place. This is still very much a young nation.

Unknown said...

I'd like to see this. The reason why Darwin's story would be controversial here is because of how the theory of evolution is presented socially. Like the other person said, what's next uproar against gravity? I do think that if evolution were treated different discursively, people would to feel threatened by it.
The more I think about this though the more anxious I get so I'll just drop it. :)

Unknown said...

Incidentally, do you know who's opening for Muse on their '09/'10 tour?

Unknown said...

Ooops, wrong place to place this comment. Sorry. Meant for Muse. :)

Sra said...

Yeah, Nicki brings up a good point. In America, it seems the only options are there is evolution and no god, or there is god and no evolution. But logically, there's no reason for evolution to preclude the existence of god. God had tools of creation, why can't evolution be one of them. This, of course, coming from an atheist, so maybe it doesn't matter what I say. But I don't see why these things have to be mutually exclusive.