USA: FILM PREMIERE OF CONTROVERSIAL DISNEY FILM "BUBBLE BOY" WHICH CRITICS SAY MAKES FUN OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM IMMUNE DEFICIENCY

Record ID: 391801

  • Title: USA: FILM PREMIERE OF CONTROVERSIAL DISNEY FILM "BUBBLE BOY" WHICH CRITICS SAY MAKES FUN OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM IMMUNE DEFICIENCY
  • Date: 21st August 2001
  • Summary: LA, USA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAKE GYLLENHAAL SAYING: "I hope there are a whole slew of reactions, I hope there are people who laugh at it, who find it tremendously funny. I hope there are people who are disturbed by it and are offended by it, I hope there are people that are enlightened by it, who think it's political and interesting, and I hope th
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES / UNIDENTIFIED FILM LOCATIONS, USA
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADVWPX80RMHS8E2UPM9OEOVGZI
  • Story Text: As "Bubble Boy" premiers in Los Angeles, the stars of Disney's latest offering hit back at the growing criticism surrounding this slapstick feature of an immune deficient boy who has to live in a giant plastic bubble.
    It should have been an evening of fun and laughs at the premier of Disney's "Bubble Boy", a comedy about a lovesick teenager who lives in a plastic bubble, who runs into all types of trouble. But with mounting criticism from protesters offended at the candid way the film depicts suffers of immundeficiency, the cast and director came out to defend the film.
    "I hope there are a whole slew of reactions, I hope there are people who laugh at it, who find it tremendously funny. I hope there are people who are disturbed by it and are offended by it, I hope there are people that are enlightened by it."
    "There's been some unfortunate controversy over, the disease, the immunodeficiency disease, and it really breaks my heart because the one thing that the movie doesn't make fun of is the disease and I would never associate myself because I think it's bad taste, with a film that did mock an illness."
    The film's star Jake Gyllenhaal says that protesters have missed the point as the boy in the bubble is in fact the hero, "You know I think that anybody who has had an emotional involvement in anything is going to, well not going to overreact but, personally I would say I am little hurt that the IDF has reacted the way they have only because one, they haven't seen the film, which, I think everyone should research before they make an argument as strong as they have made it."
    With over half a million Americans suffering from the disease, the films director went on to counter criticisms of the films alleged insensitivites.
    "I would say that the most difficult thing about being accused of making an insensitive film is not how hard it is for me as a director, it's how hard it is for me as a person, because I'd like to think I'm not an insensitive person and I'm a nice guy and we never set out to make an insensitive film, and we didn't make an insensitive film, in fact we made an incredibly sensitive film with a great heart."
    Disney officials say the film is not meant to be about the disease, but more about one boy's determination, with a bit of added humour. The studio is refusing to pull the film, but has hinted it will meet with the families to discuss working together in the future.
    But with the film failing to make the "Top 10" at the box office in it's first weekend, the controversy surrounding this film, is the last thing Disney could had possibly have wanted.
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