Netflix’s controversial French-language film ‘The Witch’ stirred up quite a bit of controversy when it was released in May 2021. The film, which follows a teenage girl’s struggles with her identity and sexuality, was criticized by some for its portrayal of witchcraft and the occult.
The film follows the story of a young girl named Eglantine (played by Fanny Ardant) who is struggling to come to terms with her identity as both a witch and a lesbian. She is ostracized by her family and peers for her beliefs and practices. As she struggles to find acceptance, she discovers the power of witchcraft and ultimately uses it to help others in need.
Many viewers were outraged at the film’s portrayal of witchcraft, claiming that it could encourage dangerous behavior among young viewers. Others argued that the film was merely exploring an interesting aspect of French culture, while still others praised its exploration of female sexuality and identity.
Despite the controversy, ‘The Witch’ has proven popular with Netflix viewers. It currently has an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was one of the streaming service’s most-watched films in May 2021.
However, in June 2021 Netflix announced that it had removed ‘The Witch’ from its library due to “numerous complaints” about its content. While Netflix did not provide any further details about the complaints or why they had decided to remove the movie from their library, many viewers have speculated that it may have been due to pressure from religious groups or other conservative organizations who felt that the movie was inappropriate for younger viewers.
Conclusion: In the end, Netflix decided to remove ‘The Witch’ from its library due to numerous complaints about its content. It is unclear what exactly motivated this decision but many have speculated that it may have been due to pressure from conservative groups or religious organizations who felt that the movie should not be available for younger viewers. Regardless of why ‘The Witch’ was removed from Netflix, it is clear that this controversial French-language film sparked quite a bit of debate among viewers both before and after its removal.