“God’s Own Country” filmmaker claims his film was censored on Amazon’s Prime Video service.
Poodles, it appears that boys having sex has gotten the goats of U.S. censors.
The kerfuffle was over the LGBT film “God’s Own Country,” a touching film about two young men finding love in the grim reality of life as rural Yorkshire farmers.
We know, it sounds like the plot to your favorite Falcon Studios film. Trust us, we’ve seen the movie, and it’s not. (Although, it did have some great sex scenes between the films’ handsome characters.)
In reality, it’s a sweet and touching film of love and the struggle between sexuality and masculinity gay men endure. A truly great work.
In a tweet on Tuesday, writer and director, Francis Lee, reported that Amazon Prime Video had censored his film, deleting at least two scenes containing gay sex.
Dear friends in USA, God’s Own Country appears to have been censored on @PrimeVideo (Amazon Prime). Until this is investigated please do not rent or buy on Amazon Prime. It is not the film I intended or made. I will report back ❤️
— Francis Lee (@strawhousefilms) May 20, 2020
On Wednesday, he clarified in a follow-up tweet that the U.S. distributor, Samuel Goldwyn Films, had edited the film before sending it to Prime Video.
Dear USA friends, after investigation God’s Own Country was not censored by @PrimeVideo (Amazon USA) but by the US distributor @GoldwynFilms who butchered the streaming version without consultation to get more ‘revenue’ .@PrimeVideo were incredibly supportive in rectifying 1/2 https://t.co/xDQP4ThaiK
— Francis Lee (@strawhousefilms) May 20, 2020
Amazon has since removed the film from its streaming services, listing it as “currently unavailable.” There is a version for sale or rent on the video platform.
We’re not sure how this whole thing will shake out, but we do know one thing. If you haven’t seen the film, do yourself a favor and watch it. Right now!
Ok, maybe don’t watch it if you’re at work. We don’t want you to get fired for inappropriate behavior. 😜
According to Lee’s Twitter account, he made the film without commissioned and on a tiny budget because it was “a story I needed to tell.”
Bravo Francis. Your film’s BAFTA nomination is well deserved. We hope you have more stories to tell.
Be sure to buy, rent, or stream the full version of “God’s Own Country,” available on the film’s website.
