The 1964 film “Mary Poppins” has been re-evaluated and given a PG rating to warn parents about the use of “discriminatory language” in the film, according to a recent report. daily Mail, British Board of Film Classification (British Film Classification Agency) The 1964 story about the magical nanny played by Julie Andrews is now considered unsuitable for children to watch alone, despite its enchantment for generations of young people.
Mary Poppins' age rating has been raised from U to PG due to “discriminatory language” by the BBFC https://t.co/HAsqleIltc pic.twitter.com/H3y83wF5X5
– Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) February 25, 2024
The outlet explained that the reclassification is due to the use of the word “Hottentots.” “This historically outdated term was used by Europeans to refer to the Khoikho, a group of nomadic pastoralists in southern Africa, but it is now considered racially offensive.”
First released in 1964, 60 years ago, Mary Poppins is considered a classic of family cinema and musical, and has a special place on our screens during Christmas. However, it has been re-evaluated according to current standards that often forget to place it in its historical context.
According to the British Film Classification Agency (BBCF), the film, directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Julie Andrews, uses “discriminatory language,” highlighting a word they consider “offensive and racist.”
The word in question is “Hottentots”, a term historically used to refer to the Khoikho, the indigenous nomadic pastoralists of South Africa, but which has acquired pejorative connotations since the 18th century.
In the film, the character Admiral Boom, played by Reginald Owen, uses the word “Hottentots” twice. In one scene, hanging from the ceiling, he asked if they were going to fight the Hottentots, and in another he announced “we're being attacked by the Hottentots” while pointing fireworks at chimney sweeps.
Due to these sequences, the BBCF changed the film's rating from “For All Audiences (U)” to “Parental Advice (PG)” because “some scenes may not be suitable for young children”. It is suggested that parents accompany minors to consider whether the content may be offensive to “younger or sensitive children.”@mundiario
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