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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Distributors of the popular US anti-war
documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" on Friday accused the US Army of stonewalling
efforts to show the film at military bases.
The Fellowship Adventure Group, IFC Films and Lions Gate Films said the
organization in charge of booking films for 160 US military base theaters was
obviously stonewalling because the filmis anti-war themed.
"We have made all requested materials available to them, but unfortunately,
a commitment to show the film has not been made," aLions Gate spokeswoman said.
They noted that the army usually quickly booked a film that hasbeen very successful
at the box office. "Fahrenheit 9/11," made by Oscar-winning director
Michael Moore, has grossed over 113 millionUS dollars so far at domestic box
offices.
The movie strongly attacked President George W. Bush's drive towar in Iraq,
and it was critical of the conduct of some US soldiers in Iraq although it
mostly depicts the US military in a positive way.
But the organization that orders films for the bases countered that it was
the distributors had caused the problem.
Judd Anstey, public affairs specialist for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service
which books movies for military base theaters, denied it is boycotting the
film because of its anti-war nature, adding that it makes decision solely
based on business.
The time between when "Fahrenheit 9/11" would be played in base theaters and
when it would be sold on DVD was too short to allow it to make money, Anstey
said.
He said it was only about a week ago that he was told "Fahrenheit 9/11"
would be available to the bases by Aug. 16, while the DVD release was reportedly
set on Oct. 5.
But Anstey added that his organization will stock base
stores with the film's DVDs when they are released. Enditem |