September 28th 2023.
Russian movie fans are defying the warnings of President Vladimir Putin and taking matters into their own hands to watch the Barbie movie, which has been banned by the government. Despite Western sanctions, the movie has been dubbed into Russian and secretly screened at various cinemas.
At one Moscow shopping centre, fans were delighted to see the giant pink house, complete with matching furniture, popcorn and life-size cutouts of Barbie and Ken. People expressed their rights to choose what they watch and were thankful to the cinemas for providing the opportunity to watch the movie.
Film critic Anton Dolin, who left Russia after being targeted by pro-war ultranationalists, explained that the demand for unofficial screenings reflects the attitude of Russians who are against the war. Russians were deprived of the privileges they once enjoyed such as watching Hollywood movies.
However, Russian MP Maria Butina has expressed her doubts about the movie and the doll that inspired it. She warned people not to break the law and has filed requests to the cinemas asking on what basis they are showing the movie.
The screenings are extremely secretive compared to Western standards, with no marketing or advertising. You can only find out where the movie is being shown through social media or word of mouth.
One teenager from the city of Perm took things into his own hands by spending over $3,000 to get a pirate copy of the movie. He hired a Russian dubbing company and put together a marketing campaign. He even sourced a designer to build the life-size Barbie box. He and his friend rented out a cinema screen and tested the movie on a 50-strong audience. The response was overwhelming, with people losing their minds for the tickets.
It's clear that despite the sanctions and warnings from the government, Russian movie fans are determined to watch the Barbie movie. The enthusiasm and demand for the movie is a testament to the joy of the moviegoers in Russia.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
