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While there’s no nudity in the PG-13 flick, several outlets have suggested that the film gets no play in France due to the “lack of diversity” within the cast.
[Sidebar: Apparently they didn't see what we saw... ]
Details + Producer Will Packer’s response below…
In a Martinique article entitled “Think Like A Man, But Not in France”:
Just weeks after the debate surrounding the election of Miss Black France 2012, another question is being discussed by French people of African descent: the cancellation of the release of the American movie “Think Like A Man” in movie theaters.
Attaining successful international distribution is by far 1 of the biggest challenges facing filmmakers of color.Surprising as it may be, the answer lies in the fact that the film has an all-black cast. French cinema is often pointed at for not fairly displaying all components of the country’s multiethnic population.
Apparently the French movie guild has decided to cancel the release of the blockbuster film, which broke US box office records when it earned over $33 million in first week ticket sales. The move held the number one spot for 3 weeks and still lands in the the top 10 after 5 weeks in theatres.
Will Packer, the producer of the successful film, responded to all the drama after being asked the following question surrounding the overseas ban:
Are the rumors, that films with Blacks in lead roles don’t do well overseas true? And if so, how do we get past that?
Excellent questions lady, first let me clarify that #thinklikeaman was not “banned” in France.However it is true that films with African-American leads(not named Will or Denzel) have struggled to perform overseas.
It’s a complex issue w/ complex solutions but suffice to say IMHO the ‘black films don’t travel’ theory is self-fulfilling.
And just for the record… it’s not just Packer’s flicks. Tyler Perry‘s “All Black” ensembles have been affected as well.
Black actor and producer Tyler Perry’s movies are never scheduled in any French movie theaters or are only released in DVDs, even though he has been used to leading the US box-office, as with ‘Why did I get Married’ and ‘For Colored Girls’.
The French society acts hypocritically, when it refuses to show movies from black producers who earn millions from conveying a positive message to the African diaspora through their films. (READ MORE)
Isn’t it interesting that a film featuring a “majority” Black cast could be banned (or on limited release) due to “lack of diversity,” while there are a gazillion films that don’t feature even ONE person of color?
Thoughts….?
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What do they mean lack of diversity? There was white people in the movie and a interacial couple!
Idiots!
That is just racist, as it was stated before, there are plenty of all white movies and they have no problem showing those. I guess black people can never have anything for themselves, they are always trying to find a way to bring us down.
from my understanding when France first gave/designed the Statue of Liberty for America it was a Black Woman. And Josphine Baker became a citizen of France b/c of all the racism here while they supported her all the way in France. This seems more political than racist to me.
This title was misleading considering the fact that Will Packer stated that it wasn’t banned in France. The real issue is that people overseas don’t go see all black films. We tend to have those same issues in our own country.
@Rocci,you are correct it was misleading but I would have to disagree with you on the second statement. I lived in Belgium and France for 7 years when I was in the military. Whenever there was a a film with a black person in it everyone (black) would run out to see it.
Whatever the cause, it is a shame. France has been obvious in their racist viewpoint, but there are so many ways that racism thrives it is disgusting.
to be honest i’m not surprised about france they are racist that’s a fact, spike lee movie "miracle at st anna" was banished as well cuz it was about black soldier in italy during the second wold war, they had a recent concours for miss black france and the media and s.o.s racism were doing a whole drama about it saying it was too much "community stuff" just for black but then in the Miss France concours u’ll never see a typical black girl being choosen or she’ll be mixed race or she’ll not even go through the 2nd round they always talk about diversity as a way to avoid community to have revendication that’s all..cuz that’s bullsh*t jackie chan is doing chinese movie all the time and they show it in france even if there’s no diversity in chinese couple…
Nothing surprising me, but they have nerve, how many movies are out there with not a one black character and it doenst get banned. WP are some of the most ignorant racist ppl, they have such a superioty complex.
Yup.
This some bull!
Good!!!
I can’t say what I really think, but if this comes as a shock to you, then you probably need to WAKE UP!!!
This is why France is having economic troubles and issues with their immigrant population. You can’t maintain the "white is right" theory forever because the majority of people on this planet are NON-WHITE! Heck, you’d be hard pressed to even find white people in the bible which they cling to so heavily.
To the Will Packers and Tyler Perry’s of the world I say to hell with trying to reach audiences abroad. If you can make good money over hear and do DVD releases overseas as opposed to theatrical releases then that’s fine because the goal is to share the stories, make some money and keep black actors working.
We all don’t have to be Steven Spielberg or Clint Eastwood or Tom Cruise. As long as black audiences are reached and you make more than what you put in then to hell with the white people!
*here*
I am ashamed and disgusted of being french. I left my country to go to the UK because I knew I wasn’t the "right colour" to be an actress there and actually live of it, but seeing that article makes me want to cry because I was right to do what I did.
Sooo not surprised…
finally something worth reading that doesnt involve lies….
I live in PARIS And YES, we (Blacks men or wemen) are Discriminate in a LOT of things here and it’s like the MEDIAS (French magasines, shows, movies, etc.) don’t makes effort to promote a positive image of our community. Thanks to Internet ’cause Internet is one of the ONLY ways to get some things. As your article said it => French people act hypocritically. I live in PARIS and feel this, but trust me…It’s worst for some who lives in Oder far cities of France!!!…(Sorry for my bad english…lol). Bises de la FRANCE ^v^ & "StraightfromtheA", continue comme ça, ton site est génial !! ^v^
The French are super particular about EVERY thing, so this is no surprise to me. To think that all movies will reflect the diversity of France with each and every story line is a bit Eutopic.
I am in love with Paris, and planned a near future trip there with my entire family. However, if this is how France treats people that are non-White, then I must rethink my passion for the city of Paris. How absurd that any place in 2012 can be so archaic? Blacks would flee the United States during slavery and in later years of prejudice and bigotry and move to Paris for a better life–Josephine Baker for example.I am quite upset at this news, and if this is how things have become in France, a place I was so very in love with–then, to Hell with the French!!!
And all of the all-white movies out there with little diversity still get shown in French theaters.
Salut Rachel
Chacune de tes larmes (dans le video), est une plaie refermee. Le propre de l’homme c’est la salete de ses actes.
Je sais de quoi tu parle et cela vient me chercher
pour plusieurs raisons que je n’evoquerai pas ici. simplement ceci : La France n’a jamais eu de grandeur et n’en aura sans doute jamais tant et aussi longtemps que l’hypocrisie reste sa devise.
BEN
P.S: Tu es lumineuse d’authenticite. Il faut etre aveugle pour l’ignorer.