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2010년 정부가 북한의 어뢰공격으로 인한 폭침으로 결론지은 ‘천안함 사건’에 대해 문제제기를 한 다큐멘터리 영화 ‘천안함 프로젝트’가 멀티플렉스 메가박스에서 상영이 시작된 지 이틀 만에 돌연 상영 중단됐다.
'천안함 프로젝트'는 이 영화의 유일한 멀티플렉스 상영관이던 메가박스를 포함 전국 36개의 극장에서 5일 개봉됐으며, 개봉 첫날 다양성영화 박스오피스 1위를 차지했다. 지난 8일까지 총 관객수는 5,070명으로 집계됐다.
영화의 제작사이자 배급자인 아우라픽쳐스 (Aura Pictures)에 따르면 메가박스는 익명의 보수단체에게 ‘천안함 프로젝트’상영에 대해 압력을 받았으며, 관객의 안전을 위해 상영 중단을 결정한 것으로 알려졌다.
이와 관련 영화인회의 이춘연 이사장은 9일 서울 중구 프레스센터에서 열린 기자회견에서 “국제적 망신”이라고 말했다. 그는 또 “문화 민주주의 국가로서 부끄러워해야 한다“고 말했다.
이날 ‘천안함 프로젝트’ 제작진을 비롯해 영화인회의, 한국영화감독조합, 한국영화제 작가협회, 한국영화프로듀서조합 등 12개 영화단체는 메가박스에 해당 다큐멘터리의 재상영과 메가박스를 협박한 보수단체에 대한 수사를 촉구했다.
한국영화감독조합 대표 이준익 감독은 “앞으로 영화를 기획하거나 찍을 때, 스스로 검열하면서 영화를 찍어야 할지 모른다”며 “영화를 만들 때 자기 검열의 압박을 받는다면 이는 문화콘텐츠 발전을 가로막는 일”이라고 주장했다.
백승우 감독이 메가폰을 잡고, 정지영 감독이 제작을 맡은 이 영화는 정치적으로 민감한 소재를 다뤘다는 이유로 개봉 전부터 화제가 됐다.
지난 8월 천안함 유가족과 해군 관계자들은 "영화의 내용이 사실을 왜곡하고 당사자들의 명예를 훼손한다"는 이유로 법원에 상영금지 가처분 신청을 제기했다. 그러나 의정부지방법원은 영화 개봉 하루 전 가처분 신청을 기각하며 5일로 예정된 영화 개봉을 허했다.
한편, 다른 상영관 체인인 CGV와 롯데 시네마는 영화 상영을 거부한 것으로 알려졌다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Showings of controversial film suspended by theater chain
By Claire Lee
Screenings of a documentary film which challenges Seoul’s claim that North Korea is responsible for the 2010 sinking of the warship Cheonan have been abruptly suspended by multiplex chain Megabox, only two days after the film hit theaters on Sept. 5.
The theater chain, a subsidiary of major local daily JoongAng Ilbo, was the only multiplex that agreed to screen the controversial film. The documentary was released in a total of 35 theaters nationwide, 26 being Megabox theaters.
The documentary topped the local diversity film chart -- a chart for indie and arthouse films -- on the day of its release. As of Sunday, it drew a total of 5,070 viewers.
According to the film’s producer and distributor Aura Pictures, Megabox decided to suspend the showings of “Project Cheonan Ship” as it received threats from an unknown conservative group for screening the movie and became concerned about the audience’s safety.
“This is an event that we should be ashamed of,” said Lee Choon-yeon, the director of Korean Association of Film Art and Industry (KAFAI) said during a press conference on Monday.
“We should be ashamed of what happened to this movie not just as cineastes, but as (a citizen of) a democratic nation.”
Representatives from 12 organizations consisting of local cineastes, including KAFAI, Directors Guild of Korea, Korean Film Producers Association, Cinematographers Guild of Korea, Korean Film Marketers Association, and The Korean Association of Film Critics spoke at the press conference held in Seoul, calling for the screening of the film at Megabox to resume and the authority’s investigation of the conservative group which allegedly made the threats.
“I am afraid what just happened to ‘Project Cheonan Ship’ would affect filmmakers in this country,” said filmmaker Lee Jun-ik, who currently serves as the head of Directors Guild of Korea.
“This incident could make filmmakers censor themselves before creating their works, especially regarding certain subject matters. What just happened is a serious threat to our culture industry.”
The documentary, directed by independent filmmaker Baek Seung-woo and produced by veteran director Chung Ji-young, had created much buzz for its politically sensitive subject matter even before its release.
Last month, a group of Navy officers and families of the Cheonan victims filed an injunction with the court to ban the film’s release, claiming it includes defamatory content against the fallen soldiers.
Just a day before the movie’s release, the Uijeongbu District Court rejected the injunction call, allowing the documentary to be screened as scheduled on Sept. 5. The movie received a “G” rating from the state-run Korea Media Rating Board, which means it can be seen by anyone who is 12 years of age or older.
The country’s two other multiplex chains -- CGV and Lotte Cinema -- are said to have rejected Aura Pictures, when it contacted them over showings of the documentary.
(dyc@heraldcorp.com)
Showings of controversial film suspended by theater chain
By Claire Lee
Screenings of a documentary film which challenges Seoul’s claim that North Korea is responsible for the 2010 sinking of the warship Cheonan have been abruptly suspended by multiplex chain Megabox, only two days after the film hit theaters on Sept. 5.
The theater chain, a subsidiary of major local daily JoongAng Ilbo, was the only multiplex that agreed to screen the controversial film. The documentary was released in a total of 35 theaters nationwide, 26 being Megabox theaters.
The documentary topped the local diversity film chart -- a chart for indie and arthouse films -- on the day of its release. As of Sunday, it drew a total of 5,070 viewers.
According to the film’s producer and distributor Aura Pictures, Megabox decided to suspend the showings of “Project Cheonan Ship” as it received threats from an unknown conservative group for screening the movie and became concerned about the audience’s safety.
“This is an event that we should be ashamed of,” said Lee Choon-yeon, the director of Korean Association of Film Art and Industry (KAFAI) said during a press conference on Monday.
“We should be ashamed of what happened to this movie not just as cineastes, but as (a citizen of) a democratic nation.”
Representatives from 12 organizations consisting of local cineastes, including KAFAI, Directors Guild of Korea, Korean Film Producers Association, Cinematographers Guild of Korea, Korean Film Marketers Association, and The Korean Association of Film Critics spoke at the press conference held in Seoul, calling for the screening of the film at Megabox to resume and the authority’s investigation of the conservative group which allegedly made the threats.
“I am afraid what just happened to ‘Project Cheonan Ship’ would affect filmmakers in this country,” said filmmaker Lee Jun-ik, who currently serves as the head of Directors Guild of Korea.
“This incident could make filmmakers censor themselves before creating their works, especially regarding certain subject matters. What just happened is a serious threat to our culture industry.”
The documentary, directed by independent filmmaker Baek Seung-woo and produced by veteran director Chung Ji-young, had created much buzz for its politically sensitive subject matter even before its release.
Last month, a group of Navy officers and families of the Cheonan victims filed an injunction with the court to ban the film’s release, claiming it includes defamatory content against the fallen soldiers.
Just a day before the movie’s release, the Uijeongbu District Court rejected the injunction call, allowing the documentary to be screened as scheduled on Sept. 5. The movie received a “G” rating from the state-run Korea Media Rating Board, which means it can be seen by anyone who is 12 years of age or older.
The country’s two other multiplex chains -- CGV and Lotte Cinema -- are said to have rejected Aura Pictures, when it contacted them over showings of the documentary.
(dyc@heraldcorp.com)
