
As Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus, continues to dominate global box office, sharp-eyed netizens have resorted to social media to call attention to an error in one of the movie’s sequences starring Cillian Murphy, who portrays the title role. This is in light of the negative press Oppenheimer has been exposed to in India for its sex scene involving the Bhagavad Gita.
The American flag used in a scene set in 1945 had 50 stars instead of 48, which represent the country’s states, as was pointed out on Twitter. Alaska and Hawaii did not become states until 1959, for those who are unaware. The message stated, “It was good and all, but I’ll be that guy and complain they used 50-star flags in a scene set in 1945.”
It was good and all, but I’ll be that guy and complain they used 50-star flags in a scene set in 1945. pic.twitter.com/nvcwpGFkzh
— Andy Craig (@AndrewRCraig) July 21, 2023
Reacting to the above mentioned error, several users shared their views. Take a look
This is an insane error for a movie like this. Unreal https://t.co/4Tj4Ue3kFd
— 𝐄𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 (@EudaimoniaEsq) July 23, 2023
christopher nolan rowing out to the middle of the sea in a rowing boat alone with nothing but a gun after reading this https://t.co/koMJiboP9V
— david (@davidefinitely) July 23, 2023
christopher nolan punching 50 holes in his wall rn https://t.co/JG8M4ngCeL
— laura 🦠 (@ecto_fun) July 22, 2023
Literally unwatchable now https://t.co/ka39AkUlVX
— Buy Pikmin 4 u coward (@Schaffrillas) July 22, 2023
Christopher Nolan reading this tweet: https://t.co/eYVfkscuvu pic.twitter.com/eIqUb8JLIz
— The Green Kasey (@RawbertBeef) July 23, 2023
While Oppenheimer, which debuted in theatres on July 21, has earned positive reviews from both audiences and reviewers, it has also offended many Indian viewers due to a sex scene with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu holy text.
Uday Mahurkar from Save Culture Save India Foundation penned an open letter to the makers of ‘Oppenheimer’, saying the scene featuring a copy of the Bhagavad Gita scene has hurt religious sentiments. He also urged the Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry to take necessary action.
Anurag Thakur, the minister of information and broadcasting, has a harsh opinion of the contentious scene. In response to the offensive sequence, the minister has sought complete transparency from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Minister has given the filmmakers immediate instructions to cut the contentious section from the movie. He has also threatened to take harsh measures against any CBFC members who participated in approving the film’s screening.
The biopic follows Oppenheimer, dubbed the “Father of the Atomic Bomb,” and is set during World War II. The leading cast of the movie includes Florence Pugh, Jack Quaid, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, and Cillian Murphy as the titular character.