Some cinema chains temporarily banned the British gang drama after reports of incidents at screenings
Tyneside Cinema bosses have defended showcasing a film which was banned by more than 100 cinemas after being blamed for sparking a wild brawl.
Blue Story was pulled from Vue and Showcase cinemas due to “significant incidents” at screenings.
One incident, at Birmingham’s Star City cinema, resulted in several police officers being injured amid reports people had brandished machetes.
Critics claimed that response was “knee jerk”.
Some claimed banning the film, about young black males caught up in a gang war, was racist.
Now, the Newcastle independent cinema has defended the film as it announced a series of screenings this week.
Andrew Simpson, director of Film Programme at the Tyneside Cinema, accepted it had caused “no end of controversy” but that clashes had been limited to a small number of cinemas, while praising the film itself.
“This is emerging as an important public conversation, and potentially something of a landmark film, so we want to give it some play this week,” he said.
“It is a real must-see of the moment drama.”
Despite the backlash since it was released last month, the film has since grossed millions at the UK box office, a figure helped after the temporary ban was ilifted.
formerly Mad Cornish Projectionist.