It is one of the most famous musicals ever: The "West Side Story"has already made quite a few people sing and cry. Actually, it was only a matter of time until the original should get a remake.
Steven Spielberg took on the project and created a new edition. This has now been censored in Arab countries. The reason: some people are bothered by the transsexual character "Anybodys". That is why the film is not to be shown in theaters here.
Who is Anybodys?
Anybodys is not penned by Stephen Spielberg, but is already on board in the original. The tomboy would like to join the Jets. But that is exactly what he is denied, because he was born a girl.
Even though Anybodys doesn't play a leading role, he was already celebrated in the 1950s. No wonder! After all, Susan Oakes not only managed to breathe life into the character in a wonderful way back then. It was also one of the first portrayals of a transsexual person on the big screen.
Whether Anybodys was gay, bisexual or straight was never discussed in detail in the film. Nor did it have to. Rather, the role stood for a special kind of versatility that was otherwise not so widespread in the 1950s and 1960s.
Arab countries do not show new edition of "West Side Story" in the cinema
When the trailer for "West Side Story" was released, a veritable storm of enthusiasm broke out on the web. And at the latest when Steven Spielberg's name was mentioned, it became clear how high the claim would be to create something great here.
However, some Arab countries seem to be anything but enthusiastic about this. They want to show - not even in the context of an epic classic - that in the end there is "more" than just biological man and biological woman. Therefore, the film should not be shown in theaters.
It doesn't help that many countries, for example Qatar, try again and again to "improve" their image regarding their treatment of the LGBTQI+ scene, for example by claiming that queer people are welcome at the next upcoming big soccer event.
On the basis of "little things", such as the fact that a film should not be shown because of a transsexual minor(!) character, it shows once again that it is obviously still a long way to international and complete equality.
What is "West Side Story" about?
West Side Story" resembles the story of Romeo and Juliet in numerous ways. It is set in New York in the 1950s. The hostile gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, clash here again and again. The love between Tony and Maria further intensifies the conflict. However, the story of the two also lives from numerous details and interwoven plots, in the context of which the trans boy Anybodys also plays an important role.
To the chagrin of many viewers, "West Side Story" has no happy ending. The connection to Romeo and Juliet is finally shown in the fact that Tony dies at the end. He is shot. How Maria deals with the death of her lover, however, remains open. The film ends with the Jets and the Sharks deciding that it is not worth killing because of gang conflicts. An important message, but one that unfortunately cannot now be spread in all countries.
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