COLOGNE, Germany -- German religious leaders and conservative politicians are up in arms after a local network aired "Die Hard" and "Die Harder" during the Easter holidays.
The violent excitement of Bruce Willis taking out international terrorists was a hit with German viewers: Berlin broadcaster Sat.1 won the Easter ratings race, with "Die Hard" grabbing a 16% share on Good Friday and "Die Harder" winning more than 20% on Easter Sunday.
But for some German believers, the films violated the dignity of the Easter holiday. Religious leaders of both Catholic and Protestant denominations called on German broadcasters to show more sensitivity in their choice of programming.
Some conservative politicians went further, calling for a ban on violent programming over Easter.
"The Easter holidays are of central importance to our culture, they are meant to be days of peace and community," said Christine Haderthauer, general secretary of Germany's Christian Social Union party. "Brutal TV has no place in that".
The religious ire was directed solely at secular television violence.
The violent excitement of Bruce Willis taking out international terrorists was a hit with German viewers: Berlin broadcaster Sat.1 won the Easter ratings race, with "Die Hard" grabbing a 16% share on Good Friday and "Die Harder" winning more than 20% on Easter Sunday.
But for some German believers, the films violated the dignity of the Easter holiday. Religious leaders of both Catholic and Protestant denominations called on German broadcasters to show more sensitivity in their choice of programming.
Some conservative politicians went further, calling for a ban on violent programming over Easter.
"The Easter holidays are of central importance to our culture, they are meant to be days of peace and community," said Christine Haderthauer, general secretary of Germany's Christian Social Union party. "Brutal TV has no place in that".
The religious ire was directed solely at secular television violence.
- 3/25/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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