Florence Pugh attends the UK premiere of ‘Oppenheimer’.Photo:Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Oppenheimersaw a huge box office opening weekend — and one of the film’s stars saw a bit of extra wardrobe after the fact.
In the blockbuster,Florence Pugh portrays Jean Tatlock, the titular scientist’s mistress. But how did countries with strict censorship laws navigate her steamy topless scenes without greatly impacting the film the wayChristopher Nolanintended for audiences to see it? PerThe Hollywood Reporter, places like the Middle East and India edited in a CGI little black dress.
In one unedited scene, Pugh is topless as she sits across fromCillian Murphy’scharacterJ. Robert Oppenheimerin a hotel room. However, in the altered version she is covered with a computer-generated black dress.
THRadds that nudity is forbidden in cinema in the Middle East and in India, and children under 12 years old are expected to have a parent present for projects with a UA rating.
SinceOppenheimer’s July 21 release,Indian officials have also spoken out about Pugh and Murphy’s sex scenes in the historical drama, calling them “a scathing attack on Hinduism." On Saturday, Save Culture Save India (SCSI) Foundation’s Uday Mahurkar expressed his feelings toward the film on social media.
“It has come to our notice that the movieOppenheimercontains a scene which make a scathing attack on Hinduism. As per social media reports, a scene in the movie shows a woman makes a man readBhagwad Geetaaloud while getting over him and doing sexual intercourse. She is holdingBhagwad Geetain one hand, and the other hands seems to be adjusting the position of their reproductive organs,” Mahurkar penned to Nolan, 52, ina lengthy Twitter post.
Mahurkar went on to say that “TheBhagwad Geetais one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism,” and that those who practice it “do not know the motivation and logic behind this unnecessary scene on life of a scientist.”
Mahurkar was not alone in his disapproval ofOppenheimer.Varietystated that India’s minister for information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur called for Pugh and Murphy’s intimate moments to be removed from the film.
Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy in ‘Oppenheimer.'.Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
Nolan previously admitted during an interview withInsiderthat he was nervous about the sex scenes. “Any time you’re challenging yourself to work in areas you haven’t worked in before, you should be appropriately nervous and appropriately careful and planned and prepared,“the filmmakersaid. “When you look at Oppenheimer’s life and you look at his story, that aspect of his life, the aspect of his sexuality, his way with women, the charm that he exuded, it’s an essential part of his story.”
“[Christopher] knew that those scenes would get the movie the rating that it got. And I think when you see it, it’s so f—- powerful. And they’re not gratuitous. They’re perfect. And Florence is just amazing,” Murphy toldThe Sydney Morning Heraldin a recent interview
He added: “I have loved Florence’s work sinceLady Macbeth, and I think she’s f—- phenomenal. She has this presence as a person and on screen that is staggering. The impact she has [inOppenheimer] for the size of the role, it’s quite devastating.”
Despite the backlash overseas,Oppenheimerreportedly raked inan estimated $82.4 million in domestic box office sales in its opening weekend — although some critics credit the success forBarbiefans being unable to score tickets tothe Greta Gerwig–directed hit. The two movies sharing the spotlight spawned a sea ofviral “Barbenheimer” memes,boosting their popularity to greater heights.
Robert Downey Jr., who plays Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis Strauss inOppenheimer, spoke highly of the project at its premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. “Just going to flat out say it: This is the best film I’ve ever been in. I cannot wait for you all to experience it,” the Marvel superstar said of Nolan’s latest.
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Oppenheimeris in theaters now.
source: people.com
