Christopher Nolan receiving backlash following Oppenheimer sex scene

26 July 2023 , 02:22
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Director Christopher Nolan is facing backlash for sex scene with Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh in new movie Oppenheimer (Image: Melinda Sue Gordon)
Director Christopher Nolan is facing backlash for sex scene with Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh in new movie Oppenheimer (Image: Melinda Sue Gordon)

Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan is receiving backlash from Indian officials following the sex scene with Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh in his newest film calling the intimate scene a "disturbing attack on Hinduism."

In a Tweet, journalist and government-appointed information commissioner Uday Mahurkar was offended by Nolan's choice to include the Bhagavad Gita in the intimate sex scene between Oppenheimer and Jean stating that the text is 'one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism' and should not be used in that context.

In the lengthy message to the former Interstellar director, the member of the Save Culture Save India Foundation, wrote: "As per social media reports, a scene in the movie shows a woman makes a man read Bhagwad Geeta aloud while getting over him and doing sexual intercourse."

Christopher Nolan receiving backlash following Oppenheimer sex scene eiqrtikeidzkinvOne Indian official posted on Twitter condemned the Oppenheimer sex scene for inappropriately using a sacred Hindu text (Universal Pictures)

In the scene, Jean played by Pugh, stops in the middle of intercourse with Oppenheimer, played by Murphy, to take the book off his bookshelf and tells him to read to her what the scripture says. The actor then reads 'I am become Death, destroyer of worlds' as they continue.

Millennials lack knowledge of WWII - but just a third consider it importantMillennials lack knowledge of WWII - but just a third consider it important

In the Tweet, the writer goes on to say that he does not understand the logic behind including the book as part of the scene. He explains that Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism and Geeta has been the inspiration for countless "sanyasis, brahmcharis and legends." He says that these people live a life of 'self-control' and selfless acts.

Christopher Nolan receiving backlash following Oppenheimer sex sceneThe Indian official says that Christopher Nolan should remove the 'offensive' sex scene from Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)

Mahurkar shares that he is personally offended by the inclusion of the text and describes it as a "direct assault on religious beliefs of a billion tolerant Hindus." He believes that the scene continues a war against the Hindu community and that the inclusion of the text appears to be a part of a "larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces."

The writer then goes on to say that Nolan should remove the inappropriate scene from Oppenheimer.

This week, another moviegoer also raised concerns about the content in the movie. On Twitter, a viewer mentioned that there was a 'historical mistake' made.

Christopher Nolan receiving backlash following Oppenheimer sex sceneA moviegoer pointed out a historically inaccurate detail in one of Christopher Nolan's scenes in Oppenheimer (© Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.)

The scene in question was when Oppenheimer was seen giving a speech to a cheering crowd of Americans. Those in the patriotic crowd were waving around American flags and the moviegoer noticed that the amount of stars on the flags were not correct.

In 1945, when the film is set, there were only 48 states in the United States - meaning there should've only been 48 stars on the flags when there were 50. These two extra stars represented Alaska and Hawaii, which didn't officially become states until 1959. The viewer claims that this historical inaccuracy 'ruined the film.'

Despite these negative reviews, Oppenheimer has been met with tremendous box office success followed by many raving reviews. Nolan's Oppenheimer made an incredible $80.5 million during the movie's opening weekend according to Universal Pictures. The war drama also received raving reviews on Rotten Tomatoes with a 93 percent score from audiences.

Caroline Gaspich

Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan

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