"I was shocked and saddened when the MPAA awarded Miral an 'R' or restricted rating. As a filmmaker, I took great pains to tailor Miral to the intended audience and frame this material appropriately within the guidelines of a PG-13 rating. I made very clear aesthetic choices so we feel the impact but never see anything that could be construed as problematic or gratuitous. It was the first time where I was conscious of the MPAA during the filmmaking process, and steered clear of anything that might result in an 'R' rating." Alas. Maybe he needed to include more cigarettes? [Huffington Post]
