Culture minister Gavrilo Grahovac revokes permit after reports film tells story of love affair between Serbian rapist and his Muslim victim
Angelina Jolie is at the centre of an international row after the Bosnian government withdrew permission for her to shoot scenes for her directorial debut in the country amid complaints from wartime rape victims.
Part of the film had been due to be filmed in Bosnia next month, but the culture minister, Gavrilo Grahovac, revoked the permit after reports that it told the story of a love affair between a Serbian rapist and his Muslim victim.
Jolie, a UN humanitarian ambassador, asked her critics to "hold judgment" on the film, saying it would be a shame if "unfair pressure based on wrong information" prevented her crew from shooting in Bosnia.
"The choice to make a film about this area and set in this time in history was also to remind people of what happened not so long ago and to give attention to the survivors of the war," she said.
Bakira Hasecic, of the Association of Women, Victims of War – which supports thousands of mainly Muslim rape victims – said: "From what I heard, it is about a victim in a rape camp falling in love with her rapist, and that's not only impossible but the idea is insulting.
"We, the victims, do not want to be portrayed that way, and we complained."
Jolie's producers have denied the rumours and have allegedly sent the film's script to Grahovac, who has said a permit will only be given if the film "is not one that insults Bosnian women".
Jolie appealed to be allowed to speak to the women's group directly.
In a statement issued via the office of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, in Bosnia, she said: "I have great respect for all the work of the WVW association … and I would like the opportunity to speak with them to personally clear up any misunderstandings about this project."
Earlier this year, Jolie visited Bosnia to highlight the plight of people who were forced from their homes during the 1991-1995 conflict.
guardian
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