Call for cinemas to screen out minors

Cinema customers say children should not be let in to movies meant for adults, and child health experts agree. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // Parents are taking children to see films that are inappropriate for their age, sometimes very late at night, cinema patrons say.

Staff say they are strict about not letting underage children into cinemas, but Gabrielle Assaf, a mother of two, said she often saw young children at movies meant for adults and that they sometimes misbehaved, ruining the experience.

“Although the movie posters clearly stated it was a 15+ or 18+ film, the staff didn’t seem to dare stop parents at the risk of losing clients or having an argument with them,” Ms Assaf said.

“I try to keep a minimum of discipline when my kids watch children’s movies, but I know some disruption is inevitable. However, when I go to watch a movie meant for adults late at night, it’s usually to get some quiet time without having children yelling, crying or jumping on the seats.”

Ms Assaf, from Lebanon, believed parents needed to take more responsibility.

“It’s up to the parents to decide whether or not they should be watching the movie in the first place. I certainly mind the inconvenience of noisy children who are not meant to be there,” she said.

Wafa El Khatib, a Palestinian office manager, said she once went to see a violent action film and there were infants and toddlers disturbing and annoying people.

“Cinema staff did not bother to stop them or to ask the parents to stop the noise, even though the movie was meant to be for adults only,” she said.

Stacey Al Darmaki, a British housewife, believed some parents did not understand the rating system and that it should be better explained to them.

“I heard a father complaining to staff because they had sold him tickets for a film that was rated ‘parental guidance under 15’. His child looked about 8 years old and he hadn’t realised how inappropriate it would be,” Ms Al Darmaki said.

Watching inappropriate films at too early an age can have a detrimental effect on a child’s development, said Dr Ahed Bisharat, a consultant paediatrician at Healthpoint Hospital.

“The children will be more aggressive in school as well as with their parents, and they might have nightmares or be socially isolated when they grow up,” Dr Bisharat said.

Mohammed Rafeeq, chief development officer at Cine Royal Cinemas, insisted that his cinemas allowed children in only if they were with their parents, and that infants were never allowed in to watch 15+ and 18+ films.

“We strictly don’t allow children to access the hall during the screening of inappropriate movies, even if they are in the company of their parents,” Mr Rafeeq said.

He said the cinema had received complaints regarding the noise caused by children spoiling the film experience for others.

Vox Cinemas UAE declined to comment.