Fellini Withdraws Bid to Forbid Film Showing

Italian director Federico Fellini has dropped demands made in a Paris court action to ban showings of his latest film, “Intervista,” after complaining the French dubbing and subtitling was vulgar, his lawyer said on Friday.

Jean-Francois Sampieri told Reuters that Fellini had withdrawn the demand, but still reserved the right to pursue his legal action against the dubbing and subtitling, which he said “have massacred the nuances of the film.”

“Fellini considers his arguments have been heard sufficiently and does not want to risk destroying the film. . . . He considers the incident closed,” Sampieri said.

The suit filed by Fellini said the French company responsible for dubbing and subtitling the film, AMLF, had distorted and diminished his work.

The film has already been seen by 90,000 people since it opened in French theaters Dec. 23.

Fellini had also demanded an award of $18,500 for every day the film was withdrawn from French screens, but this had also been dropped, Sampieri said.