Warning: Movie may cause nausea, headaches

Japanese distributor of ‘Babel’ hearing complaints since film opened there

	‘Babel’ was highly anticipated in Japan after Rinko Kikuchi received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her portrayal of a deaf and frustrated Tokyo schoolgirl.
Tsutomu Umezawa / AP

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updated 1:00 p.m. ET May 2, 2007

TOKYO - The Japanese distributor of “Babel” is warning audiences the movie may cause nausea or headaches.

Gaga Communications has received 15 complaints since the film, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, opened Saturday in theaters throughout the country, company spokeswoman Aimi Ichikawa said Wednesday.

Ichikawa said the company was investigating which scenes caused the illnesses, and hasn’t ordered theaters to adjust sound or lighting.

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The problem of nausea or headaches has only been reported in Japan, she said.

Some 300 theaters nationwide posted a note Tuesday saying “Babel” contains scenes with strong effects and that some viewers felt sick after seeing them, according to a company news release.

Gaga Communications also ran ads with a warning in major newspapers Wednesday.

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“Babel,” directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, depicts a saga of families on three continents linked by tragic events in the African desert.

The film was highly anticipated in Japan after Rinko Kikuchi received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. Kikuchi, 26, played a deaf and frustrated Tokyo schoolgirl.

“Babel,” released by Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Vantage, received seven Oscar nominations. It won the Oscar for best original score.