Just Another View

District 9 opened on August 14, 2009 with massive success, ranking #1 in its first weekend at the box office with an opening gross of $37,354,308 and is currently up for 19 Emmy nominations. As of August 30, 2009 it has grossed an estimated $90,813,000 in the United States and $105,149,708 worldwide. The film also did extremely well in South Africa, grossing five times better than the award winning film Tsotsi. But Nigeria was not so thrilled about the film’s release. Throughout the film the Nigerians are depicted as gangsters who live among the aliens, selling them cat food, and other paid services such as weapons and prostitutes. Dora Akunyili, the information minister for Nigeria, expressed his concern in a recent CNN article by Faith Karimi, he said, "Why do they want to denigrate Nigerians as criminals, cannibals and prostitutes who sleep with extra-terrestrial animals? We've had enough with the stereotypes they have branded us with ... we are not going to sit back and allow people to stigmatize us." Akunyili also expresses concern about the name of the top gangster which is Obesandjo the last name of former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. Because of outcries like Akunyilis the film will not screen in Nigeria unless Sony apologizes or edits any Nigerian references. But not all Nigerians express the same view as Akunyili like actor Eugene Khumbanyiwa who played in top gangster in the film. He suggested that he was just playing his character to the best of his ability and was surprised by the reaction of many Nigerians because his Nigerian co-stars had no problem with the film or their roles. Others argue that Nigerians are such a minuscule part of the film it is pointless to get upset. The Nigerians only make up around 10 minutes of the 113 minute film. Again, this is just another example of looking at a film from other perspectives and the wide range of views that are expressed.