The much-anticipated movie adaptation of Depraved has drawn consideration after the British Board of Movie Classification (BBFC) issued a cautionary warning about its portrayal of discrimination. Issues had been raised over themes that may upset viewers, significantly concerning the therapy of its green-skinned protagonist, Elphaba.
The BBFC has given the movie a PG certificates, advising mother and father that some scenes might be distressing for youthful audiences. In response to the Telegraph, the warning particularly notes that Elphaba, the Depraved Witch of the West, is “mocked, bullied, and humiliated due to her pores and skin color.” The movie delves into Elphaba’s backstory, revealing her childhood struggles with being ostracised and shunned attributable to her inexperienced pores and skin—a storyline that mirrors real-world problems with prejudice. (Although truthfully, you’d assume being inexperienced would make her the good child in class!)
Moreover, the BBFC flagged the movie’s depiction of magical creatures, highlighting that “speaking animals are persecuted in a fantastical society.” They identified that seeing beloved characters mistreated, significantly when Elphaba’s look is used to painting her because the “Depraved Witch,” might evoke sturdy emotional reactions from audiences. (Be aware to self: it appears even a flying monkey can’t catch a break.)
In a press release shared by GB Information, the BBFC defined, “Seeing beloved characters being mistreated, particularly when Elphaba’s pores and skin color is used to demonise her because the Depraved Witch, could also be upsetting and poignant for some audiences.”
The movie, which premiered in theaters worldwide final week, is predicated on the hit stage musical Depraved. The Broadway manufacturing itself was impressed by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Depraved: The Life and Instances of the Depraved Witch of the West. This story reimagines the world of The Wizard of Oz by way of Elphaba’s perspective, difficult conventional views of excellent versus evil. (Spoiler alert: issues aren’t so black and white in Oz—or inexperienced, for that matter.)
Whereas the BBFC’s warning has sparked debate, it additionally underscores the movie’s highly effective exploration of societal biases and the damaging results of marginalizing those that are completely different. As audiences flock to see Depraved, its poignant themes proceed to resonate, providing a well timed reminder of the significance of empathy and understanding in storytelling. (And perhaps, simply perhaps, it’ll persuade us all to be a bit kinder—even to witches.)
