'The Outlaws 2' Banned from Screening in Vietnam

Main Background but Many Violent Scenes Cited
Analysis Suggests Negative Image of Ho Chi Minh Was Overlaid

The screening of the movie 'The Outlaws 2' in Vietnam has been blocked. According to the film industry on the 7th, the local distributor Lotte Entertainment applied for a rating review to the Film Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam last May. The censorship authorities rejected it, citing the numerous violent scenes.

Indeed, the movie contains many violent scenes. This is because it depicts Ma Seok-do (Ma Dong-seok) and the violent crimes unit detectives of Geumcheon Police Station wiping out the gang led by Kang Hae-sang (Son Seok-gu), who does not hesitate to commit murder and theft. The main setting is Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. It is portrayed as a lawless zone where Korean criminals kidnap tourists and commit murder. The local police are uncooperative, causing the case to become tangled like a Gordian knot. Because of this, some speculate that the negative image attached to Ho Chi Minh City led to the screening ban.

This is not the first time Vietnamese authorities have banned a Korean film. In 2012, 'R2B: Return to Base' failed censorship due to scenes of armed conflict between North and South Korea. Vietnamese authorities tend to reject films that cause controversy related to government positions or national interests. Starting January next year, foreign companies producing films locally will be required to submit scripts in advance and obtain approval from the Ministry of Culture.