March 12, 2021
'Supernova' Sex Scene Sliced Out in Russian Cinemas
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Russian distributors have taken the censorship shears to gay romance movie "Supernova" starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, hacking out at least one scene of same-sex intimacy, The Moscow Times reports.
The article said reports indicated that "at least one scene where the characters try to have sex after a dramatic dialogue has disappeared from the story."
"Still, several viewers of the stripped-down version confirmed that it's clear from the context even after self-censorship that the characters are a couple," the story continued, before adding that the distributor, World Pictures, "appeared to be concerned about Russia's law banning 'homosexual propaganda to minors' (though 'Supernova' is rated '18+' for mature audiences) and past attacks on venues that had screened controversial movies."
Russia's notorious 2013 "no homo promo" law purports to "protect children" by barring any public display same-sex affection or public declaration of support for LGBTQ rights. Being gay is not illegal in Russia, but certain rights - such as marriage - are denied to non -heterosexuals, and the government and the Russian Orthodox Church have promoted increasing homophobia over the last decade.
The Muslim-majority Russian province of Chechnya is itself the subject of a recent film. The documentary "Welcome to Chechnya" exposes the human rights abuses currently being endured by LGBTQ people under regional strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.
The Harry Macqueen-directed film - about a British concert pianist, played by Firth, and his American novelist husband, played by Tucci, who is suffering early onset dementia - opened in Russia on March 11.
Both Firth and Tucci are straight actors who have portrayed GLBTQ characters on screen before.
Reports said that the distributor had tried to prevent the word "gay" from appearing in reviews of the film. At least one review, at film.ru, not only took note of the same-sex relationship at the film's heart, but said that the effort to censor overt indications of that relationship had "made this love story even more poignant and delicate."
The Moscow Times recalled that several other recent American films have been trimmed to remove references to LGTBQ characters and storylines, including "Avengers: Endgame," the Elton John biopic "Rocketman," and the animated Disney film "Onward."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
