Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, April 26, 2024 78° Today's Paper


News

Quebec slams Netflix over use of crash footage in ‘Bird Box’

1/1
Swipe or click to see more

ASSOCIATED PRESS

This image released by Netflix shows Sandra Bullock in a scene from the film, “Bird Box.”

Quebec urged entertainment giant Netflix Inc. to remove footage of a deadly rail disaster from two of its productions, including new horror movie ‘Bird Box.’

In a Jan. 18 letter to Netflix Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings and made public today, Quebec Culture Minister Nathalie Roy deplored the company’s “lack of compassion, empathy and solidarity” with people touched by the tragedy. She backed a request by the mayor of Lac-Megantic, a town of 6,000 people three hours east of Montreal, to have the images removed from all productions.

“As many Quebecers, our government has trouble understanding how a global giant like Netflix could consider it fine to use such images in this context,” she wrote. “From a moral and ethical perspective, that’s simply inadmissible.”

The tragedy of Lac-Megantic is still fresh in the province’s memory. Much of downtown was destroyed and 47 people were killed when an unattended train carrying oil rolled down a hill, derailed and exploded on a Friday night in July 2013, in what would be Canada’s worst railway disaster in a century.

“If this has touched one of your loved ones, Mr. Hastings, how would you have reacted when learning a multinational company was using images carrying heavy and dark memories and only for its own profit?” Roy asked.

Netflix didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The other production was the series ‘Travelers,’ according to the ministry.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.