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Dancing chimney sweeps in "Mary Poppins", shortly before the retired Admiral Boom thinks he is being attacked by savages

Photo: AP/dpa

The British film classification body British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has changed the classification of the film “Mary Poppins” almost 60 years after its first release.

Until now, the film was considered “U” – meaning that the film cannot be offensive or harmful.

Now the term “PG” (short for parental guidance) applies to him because discriminatory language is used, reports the British newspaper “Daily Mail”.

The 1964 film classic should only be watched by children in the presence of adults.

The reason for this is the use of an outdated and derogatory term for indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa.

This also includes the Nama, against whom Germany committed genocide at the beginning of the 20th century.

The term is now viewed as racially offensive.

The word is used in the film in two scenes with Admiral Boom.

The Admiral is a neighbor of the Banks family, a retired Navy man who has built a ship on the roof of his house and fires a cannon twice a day.

In one scene he asks the Banks children whether they want to "fight the Hottentots or dig for treasure," while in another he thinks he is under attack as the chimney sweeps (with their faces blackened by soot) dance on the roof.

»We're being attacked by hottentots!

Cheeky devils!" he shouts, in the German version: "Alarm, we are being attacked by Hottentots!

Black devils!”

The BBFC fears the term could offend children or be repeated by them.

We know from “studies on racism and discrimination” that this is “one of the main concerns of parents.”

The historical context was taken into account in the decision - the film takes place in London in the early 20th century.

But the fact that the discriminatory language is not clearly condemned makes a reclassification necessary.

The BBFC advises that children of all ages can watch the film, but parents should consider whether the content may upset "younger or more sensitive children".

The reclassification only affects the theatrical version of the film, while the home entertainment versions remain rated U, according to the BBFC.

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