Clooney in Syriana

The film which won George Clooney an Oscar may be banned in one of the countries where it was shot because of political sensitivities. Syriana was partly filmed in the United Arab Emirates. The authorities there are still deciding whether the film, which is a political thriller, will be shown. Julia Wheeler reports.

Listen to the story

Meanwhile hordes of Clooney fans clamoured to catch a glimpse of him in the bars or restaurants of smart hotels. The film he came to make, Syriana, cast Clooney as a CIA agent in the Middle East. It's set against a backdrop of intrigue within the oil industry.

Before permission was given for filming at all, the script had to be approved by the Dubai authorities. But now it seems the finished version may not be shown in cinemas in the UAE. Most films are approved or banned straight after they're watched by the censors. But according to its would-be distributor, responsibility for Syriana was passed from the Dubai censors to those in the capital Abu Dhabi, and they've been considering the film for three weeks.

It's not clear exactly which part of the film is causing concern, but general political sensitivity within a volatile region seems likely. Whatever the issue, pirated DVD copies are being distributed, so those who worked on the film and Clooney's fans have at least some chance of seeing the Oscar-winning star and his film.

Julia Wheeler, BBC, Dubai

Listen to the words

a stir
excitement

clamoured
demanded, really wanted

capacity
way

hordes
lots of

to catch a glimpse of
for a chance to see

a backdrop of intrigue
an atmosphere of mystery

censors
people who remove or ban things they don't think are suitable for the public to see e.g. violence in movies

a volatile region
an unstable area

pirated
illegal, unofficial