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MOVIE

Qatar bans Scandinavian sex change movie

Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has been praised for her performance alongside Eddie Redmayne in 'The Danish Girl'. But Qatar has banned the transgender film following complaints of depravity.

Qatar bans Scandinavian sex change movie
Alicia Vikander at the Los Angeles premiere of 'The Danish Girl'. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Hollywood star Vikander only narrowly lost out on a Golden Globe this weekend for her starring role in 'The Danish Girl' as the wife of an artist who undergoes one of the world's first sex changes.

But the praised movie has not hit home with all audiences. Qatar's decision to ban it follows protests online about the “depravity” of the film, which had begun screening at some cinemas in Doha this month.

“We would like to inform you that we have contacted the concerned administration and the screening of the Danish film is now banned from cinemas,” the culture ministry wrote on Twitter.

“We thank you for your unwavering vigilance.”

The film, which is loosely based on the lives of Danish painters Lile Elbe and Gerda Wegener in the 1920s, had first been screened in Qatar last Thursday.

The Doha News website reported that some viewers had taken to social media to complain that the movie was being screened in Qatar, and one complained about the film's “moral depravity” after seeing the trailer.

One member of staff at a Doha cinema, who did not wish to be named, said authorities had told them to remove the film on Monday. It was immediately pulled.

British actor Redmayne, who won an Oscar last year for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in 'The Theory of Everything', plays pioneering transgender woman Elbe in the movie.

27-year-old Swede Vikander, one of the cinematic world's rising supernovas, has previously made headlines after speaking out on the Hollywood paygap between male and female actresses.

CULTURE

Daddy cool: Swedish dads go viral as boy band

Five Swedish fathers singing capella pop songs while taking care of their young children have taken social media by storm, with their videos garnering tens of millions of views.

Daddy cool: Swedish dads go viral as boy band

The five men, all in their 30s, film their “Dad Harmony” sessions while hanging out with their kids at home in the northern town of Skellefteå.

“This story all started at my bachelor party” in the summer of 2022, Peter Widmark, a 33-year-old who works in sales, told AFP in an interview. “We were hanging out and singing as we usually do when we hang out… (and) my brother filmed it and put it on TikTok with his seven followers.”

The next morning the dads discovered the video had been viewed 40,000 times. The number had skyrocketed to 20 million hits worldwide within a few weeks.

The five friends decided to start posting videos regularly, shot in their kitchens or on their sofas, often holding their little ones on their laps.

Singing the chorus of Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah”, one of the dads can be seen holding his weeks-old newborn in his arms.

“It’s a soothing thing when we sing,” Widmark said, explaining why the children are usually so calm in the videos.

‘Typical Swedish guys’

“We are typical Swedish guys,” said Widmark’s brother Tomas, who is also part of the group, adding it was “not that unusual” for men in Sweden to spend a lot of time with their children.

“Almost every guy in Sweden is used to taking paternity leave so it’s not a big deal for us,” he added.

Each of the dads has two kids.

Dad Harmony’s repertoire includes hits by Michael Jackson, the Beatles and popular Christmas songs.

Since the end of November the group has been on a month-long tour criss-crossing Sweden to perform live shows each weekend – albeit without their kids.

During the weeks, they go back to Skellefteå and continue to work at their normal jobs and spend time with their families.

The members of Dad Harmony in an interview with AFP. Photo: Viken Kantarci/AFP

“I just stumbled on their video on Instagram and I was mesmerised,” said Louise Elgström, a 41-year-old fan who attended a recent show in the town of Norrköping.

She said their appeal lies in the fact that “they feel so natural and also (that they are) involving their children”.

The dads vow their success won’t go to their heads. “No televisions flying from the hotel rooms!” joked band member Sebastian Åkesson.

But the group has big dreams: they hope to line up tour dates in the United States and Asia, and say they would love to sing with Elton John one day.

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