The Unfortunate Timing of Hotel Mumbai [EDITORIAL]

Following the New Zealand terror attack raises the question, should Anthony Maras’ movie Hotel Mumbai be released? If you are unfamiliar with the backstory of the movie, it is about terror attacks that took place in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India back in 2008. The movie was set to release in Australia on March 14th, 2019 and the United States on March 22nd, 2019. It is not the movie’s fault that the timing of its release was so unfortunate and happened at possibly the worst time.

The next day after the movie’s release in Australia, March 15th, 2019, was the day of the mass shooting that killed 50 people and injured countless others at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The unfortunate event was live streamed online where it showed countless victims being killed.

Movie release dates are set many months in advance and what happens in the world near the date is not something the moviemakers can control. Could you imagine putting all your time and energy into a project for it to never be seen? Also, there are movies made about horrific events in history all the time. The movie Hotel Mumbai being just one of them that focuses on the terror attack in India.

However, the movie’s release date in New Zealand was suspended after the shootings that took place in Christchurch. Hotel Mumbai is not the first movie to be released during a time of distress and heartbreak. A lot of movies were delayed and even cancelled following the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States as well. A country delaying a movie or television show is that country’s way of doing what’s best for the people and to show support towards the victims and the fallen.

To be sure, the movie does include many graphic scenes that include a lot of blood and shots to the head that could be sensitive at this time. A lot of people would think that it would be best to cancel the movie overall however, it is important to keep in mind how important it is to release a movie that so many people have worked on. Just overall cancelling the movie would be a kick in the face to the workers and the cast. They spent countless days and months on set, building the sets, doing hair and makeup, putting together costumes, just for the movie to never be seen.

So, should the movie really be penalized because of the poor timing? After all that went into it and to tell the story of the terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, it really should not. It is a way to remember to people who were affected and is able to educate more people on the horrendous act that occurred.

The point of the movie is to not diminish or sugarcoat the events that took place but to show what actually happens in the world. Yes the timing of the New Zealand terror attack and the movie release was poor, but the movie would not have known that it was going to happen. Whether people go to see it or not, that is up to them entirely.