Australian film pulled after causing fights
The Combination pulled from Sydney cinemas after causing violence
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Sunday, 01, Mar 2009 02:12
Australian film The Combination has been pulled from cinemas in Sydney after it began causing fighting at various screenings.
The controversial work directed by David Field is set during the city's race riots, which flared between Australian Lebanese groups and white youths throughout the Cronulla Beach area in 2005.
The riots, which were initially restricted to specific localised areas, gradually worsened and eventually caused widespread damage to businesses and communities.
It began after assaults on several lifeguards at Sydney beaches before spreading to mass rioting and violence across several suburbs and the issues are still thought to cause deep-lying unrest within the area.
At recent screenings, arguments between patrons have led to some fighting - prompting cinema chain Greater Union to withdraw the film from release at its four Sydney screens.
Fighting initially erupted outside the Parramatta branch on Thursday night - with the scenes repeated on Saturday.
The cinema's general manager Robert Flynn said the move had been enforced to "maintain the safety and security of our staff and patrons".
Australian Film Syndicate managing director Allanah Zitserman said the decision to pull the critically-acclaimed film was "devastating for everyone involved, especially for the audiences".
In a statement, she added: "Although we do not support the decision by Greater Union to pull the film from its New South Wales sites, we respect and understand their position."
Despite its absence from Greater Union cinemas, The Combination - which uses genuine news footage during the film - continues to be shown at a number of other locations in the area.