Netflix Film ‘Desire’ Faces Flak For 9-year-old’s Masturbation Scene

“Desire”, an Argentine film which has been facing a lot of backlash since its release, is now objected by a parents’ group which has demanded online streaming platform Netflix to remove it. Directed by Diego Kaplan, the film is in controversy over its opening scene which shows a nine-year-old girl masturbating to the point of orgasm, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Timothy F. Winter, President of the Parents Television Council, wrote in an open letter to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings: “I respectfully, but pointedly, ask you: Does the Netflix brand stand for the distribution of nine year old girls masturbating? The answer is yes or no; there is no other choice here.”

Kaplan earlier defended the scene in a statement to Indiewire, saying: “We work in a world of fiction; and, for me, before being a director comes being a father.” Written by Erika Halvorsen, “Desire” was released in 2017.