Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to miss UAE

DUBAI // Hollywood's English-language remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo may be performing well at international box offices, but few cinema screens across the region - including those in the UAE - will show it.

The producers of the US$90 million (Dh330.5m) film, directed by David Fincher and based on Stieg Larsson's best-selling book, have declined to accept the cuts proposed by censors.

"Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to make the cuts that were necessary for it to be screened," said Piroska Szakacs of local distributors Empire International. "The filmmakers wouldn't allow it."

The story involves scenes including the rape of the main character, Lisbeth Salander, and it is believed that these scenes were the ones that needed to be removed. "I think there were about eight cuts, and they were of some quite nasty scenes," said Ms Szakacs.

The film, which stars Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig, has received critical acclaim since it was released in the US on December 20. Mara's performance in particular has been strongly praised, with some suggesting it worthy of an Oscar nomination.

Last year, Natalie Portman's portrayal of a ballet dancer in Black Swan earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. That film also failed to make UAE cinemas after being banned by censors.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will, however, reach cinemas in Lebanon, where it is due to open on January 5. "It's a shame about the other countries because it's such a brilliant movie," said Ms Szakacs.

aritman@thenational.ae