Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Ini Edo has begged the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to allow her latest movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, remain in cinemas following mounting criticism from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the film’s title.
The actress pleaded with the authorities to consider the context of the film, urging them to watch it before taking any regulatory action and insisting that the title was symbolic rather than an attempt to offend the Christian faith or God.
She said:“I’m just begging to say, please, I did take money from investors to do this film. If you pull it just because of the title, perhaps you should see the film. If it dishonours Christians in any way, if it dishonours God in any way, I will pull it,” Edo said.
She further pleaded with religious leaders and authorities to judge the film based on its content rather than its title alone.
She added: “All I’m begging you, my fathers and my mothers; go and watch this film and see if it degrades Christians and God. If it does, I will pull it.”
She explained that the title was chosen to tell a story and provoke conversations, noting that there was no malicious intent behind it.
According to her, no objections were raised at the time the title was selected, adding that she would not have gone ahead with the project if she believed it would offend religious sensibilities.
“If I had any reservation from anywhere, we would not have used the title. I would never have been a part of anything that I would have felt like it would dishonour God, because the only reason why I’m here is because of God,” she said.
The film had drawn criticism from CAN, which described the title as offensive to the Christian faith.
The association said Christmas is a sacred season marking the birth of Jesus Christ and symbolising purity, peace, love and redemption, arguing that associating it with the word “dirty” diminishes its spiritual significance.
