Mary Poppins will be honored in Hollywood in June 2022. EMMA MCINTYRE/Getty Images via AFP
The British censorship board considered that the 1964 work contained “discriminatory remarks” and decided to remove it from the “general public” category to subject it to scrutiny.
correspondent in London,
Mary Poppins will suddenly descend from her cloud. The famous 1964 film has just been de facto deemed potentially toxic to young children and removed from the general audience category in the UK. The British censorship board considered that the work contained “discriminatory remarks.”
The film was reclassified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), with the “U” (for “universal”) category moving to the “PG” category, which requires parental review. The organization said a derogatory term originally used by white Europeans for nomadic peoples in southern Africa – “Hottentots” – appeared there, referring to chimney sweeps whose faces were covered in soot. “Although Mary Poppins is set in a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned and ultimately goes beyond our guidelines,” he explains.
“Outdated and racist”
A BBFC spokesperson justified this position by saying that “based on its research into racism and discrimination, one of the main concerns for parents is the risk of exposing children to discriminatory language or behavior which they may find distressing or repeat without becoming aware of the potential offence “The organization is pointing out the “outdated and racist” nature of the term “Hottentots,” which was historically used by Europeans to describe the Khoikhoi in South Africa and Namibia. It is used twice in the film by Admiral Boom.
Robert Stevenson's musical film, released in 1964 at Disney Studios, combines animation and live action. The following year he won five Oscars, including Best Actress and Best Music. Set in 1910 London, the story follows a magical nanny, played by Julie Andrews, who, with the help of Bert, a traveling chimney sweep played by Dick Van Dyke, changes the lives of children who feel neglected by their parents. A very innocent atmosphere, but two or three words can't seem to get through anymore. The film is set to be released in select UK cinemas to mark its 60th anniversary.