The release of American-British film "Child 44," about a serial killer of children in the Soviet Union, has been canceled in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan following similar moves in Russia and Belarus, media reported Thursday.
A source at the Kyrgyz movie theater chain Cinematica was quoted by Interfax as saying the decision was made by the national Culture Ministry.
Earlier this week Russia's Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky wrote that the film portrays the Soviet Union as a land of "physically and morally defective subhumans" where "starving children eat their weaker classmates."
Unlike the 2014 Russian film "Leviathan," which was widely acclaimed in the West despite being barraged with complaints by Russian officials, "Child 44" has been generally panned by Western critics.
One comment on popular review site Rotten Tomatoes, which grades the film as 31 out of 100, tells potential moviegoers to "just say nyet."
Contact the author at [email protected]
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
