Saigon theaters fined up to $3,250 for permitting underage viewing 'Mai' movie

Inspections at seven cinemas revealed that these establishments failed to adhere to age restrictions for the movie, which contains content unsuitable for viewers under 18.

According to Pham Van Dung, Chief Inspector at the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, the appropriate penalty for each theater, ranging from fines of VND60-80 million, is being considered by the department before submission to higher authorities for official issuance. As of now, the names of the theaters in violation have not been disclosed.

The city has intensified its inspection efforts across all cultural activities, with a particular focus on the movie industry. The department has strongly advised theaters to impose tighter control over audience age restrictions, for both online and offline ticket sales, he said.

The "Mai" film includes intense scenes and dialogue deemed unsuitable for audiences under 18, as per Vietnamese cinema cultural advisories. Photo by CJ

Authorities have begun such initiatives by reviewing ticket sales at a number of theaters nationwide in response to concerns of underage viewership of "Mai."

At the National Cinema Center in Ha Noi on Feb. 22, ministry inspector Le Thanh Liem and his team closely monitored ticket sales activities, including providing instructions, age screenings at the box office and auditoriums, and ensuring that warning labels were present on movie tickets as well as pre-screening announcements.

Vietnam currently categorizes films into five ratings: P (general audiences), K (parental guidance for children under 13), and the age-specific categories of T13, T16, and T18, indicating the minimum viewer age.

"Mai," labelled 18+ by the National Film Review Board, features intense scenes between the two main characters. The movie has a budget of VND50 billion, most of which was used for production design.

It centers around the life of the female lead, Mai (played by Phuong Anh Dao) – a nearly 40-year-old massage therapist who has a chance encounter with the younger Duong (played by Tuan Tran), who then pursues her romantically. She struggles to accept the feelings of a man seven years her junior due to her low self-esteem.

"Mai" has recorded the fastest ticket-sales rate of all time in Vietnam, grossing over VND450 billion ($18.24 million).