Charles Darwin film 'too controversial for religious America'

Allhallowsday · September 14, 2009, 08:21:28 PM

Charles Darwin film 'too controversial for religious America'
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, starring Paul Bettany, details Darwin's "struggle between faith and reason" as he wrote On The Origin of Species. It depicts him as a man who loses faith in God following the death of his beloved 10-year-old daughter, Annie.

The film was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has its British premiere on Sunday. It has been sold in almost every territory around the world, from Australia to Scandinavia.

However, US distributors have resolutely passed on a film which will prove hugely divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February, only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.

Movieguide.org, an influential site which reviews films from a Christian perspective, described Darwin as the father of eugenics and denounced him as "a racist, a bigot and an 1800s naturalist whose legacy is mass murder". His "half-baked theory" directly influenced Adolf Hitler and led to "atrocities, crimes against humanity, cloning and genetic engineering", the site stated.

The film has sparked fierce debate on US Christian websites, with a typical comment dismissing evolution as "a silly theory with a serious lack of evidence to support it despite over a century of trying"...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6173399/Charles-Darwin-film-too-controversial-for-religious-America.html

indianasmith · September 14, 2009, 09:29:09 PM

I would be interested in seeing the film. Darwin was a fascinating character and one of the most influential men of all time, regardless of how one feels about his theories.

Some of my co-religionists do need to lighten up a bit.

meQal · September 14, 2009, 10:16:05 PM

It sounds more like they are trying to hype the film than anything else. Sure distributors might claim it's cause the film is too controversial but odds are it's because they don't feel they can make a large enough profit off it. And why I feel it's mostly being said to hype the film is because seldom do many Brit films get a wide theater release in the US. Most run in limited engagements in larger cities like New York or LA. Smaller venues like the small town I live in almost never get any films beyond those released from the major studios here in the US. By claiming it's too contraversial for release in the Us helps build intrest in the film that makes people want to see it on DVD or pay-per-view.

Psycho Circus · September 15, 2009, 05:07:25 AM

Some people just don't like the truth.

trekgeezer · September 15, 2009, 07:44:25 AM

What's really funny about this is that Darwin's theories say nothing about the origin of life. I personally think evolution is as evident as the nose on your face.

Mofo Rising · September 15, 2009, 10:24:01 AM

I'm inclined to agree with meQal on this one. Sounds like somebody is trying to drum up publicity. The quotes from the article up above do little to dispel the notion.

I'm certainly no fan of evolution deniers, but to say that this film will be "hugely divisive" and is "sparking fierce debates" is to over-inflate its importance. Quoting from "influential site" Movieguide.org is a poor case of cherry-picking an argument to create false controversy.

Saucerman · September 15, 2009, 10:33:55 AM

My standard response to ferocious anti-evolutionists: "So where do nipples on men fit into God's Plan?"

That being said, I look forward to seeing this film.

akiratubo · September 15, 2009, 03:13:08 PM

It isn't controversial, actually. There aren't really that many anti-evolutionists, they are a very vocal minority.

This "too controversial" business is probably just to drum up interest in the movie.

Allhallowsday · September 15, 2009, 05:12:41 PM

Quote from: akiratubo on September 15, 2009, 03:13:08 PM
It isn't controversial, actually. There aren't really that many anti-evolutionists, they are a very vocal minority.

This "too controversial" business is probably just to drum up interest in the movie.

Could be hype. Yet, I wonder how many British films of CREATION's caliber fail to find an American distributor?

Rev. Powell · September 15, 2009, 08:20:43 PM

Quote from: Allhallowsday on September 15, 2009, 05:12:41 PM
Quote from: akiratubo on September 15, 2009, 03:13:08 PM
It isn't controversial, actually. There aren't really that many anti-evolutionists, they are a very vocal minority.

This "too controversial" business is probably just to drum up interest in the movie.
Could be hype. Yet, I wonder how many British films of CREATION's caliber fail to find an American distributor?

Your asking how many intellectual documentaries about historical figures fail to find an American theatrical distrbutor? All of them, I suspect.

Allhallowsday · September 15, 2009, 11:49:20 PM

Quote from: Rev. Powell on September 15, 2009, 08:20:43 PM
Quote from: Allhallowsday on September 15, 2009, 05:12:41 PM
Quote from: akiratubo on September 15, 2009, 03:13:08 PM
It isn't controversial, actually. There aren't really that many anti-evolutionists, they are a very vocal minority.

This "too controversial" business is probably just to drum up interest in the movie.
Could be hype. Yet, I wonder how many British films of CREATION's caliber fail to find an American distributor?

Your asking how many intellectual documentaries about historical figures fail to find an American theatrical distrbutor? All of them, I suspect.

It's not a documentary, but a drama starring JENNIFER CONNELLY based upon a fictional account of the DARWIN family.