Greek social norms are liberal when it comes to freedom for minors with ‘horoesperides’ (high school social dances) taking place at clubs, drinking allowed from the age of 17 years and a bending of rules. However, a political furore has erupted following screenings of the Hollywood blockbuster Joker in Athens.

Police were called to at least two movie theatres to check whether unaccompanied minors were present because the film had been given an R rating in Greece, meaning that movie-goers had to be at least 18 years of age to attend the psychological thriller.

The film is rated appropriate only for adults in Greece, however adolescents rushed to cinemas to see it. Police stormed into the cinemas and escorted a number of  adolescents, possibly 20, to nearby police precincts to be picked up by their parents.

According to Greek media reports, two officials from the Ministry of Culture asked the police to intervene though the ministry had said that it was not aware of such a request.

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On Monday morning, Greek Sports and Cuture Minister Lena Mendoni clarified that the two officials affiliated with the board that gives ratings to films took it upon themselves to call the police, and she added that the action exceeded the jurisdiction of the two government employees. Ms Mendoni criticised radical left SYRIZA party leader Alexis Tsipras for ‘politicising’ the incident. However, it was later revealed that the Ministry had issued a warning to cinemas around Greece with instructions for them not to admit minors into the movie halls.

Opposition SYRIZA MEP Stelios Kouloglou warned that the government is pushing the country into an ultra-conservative direction.

The decision to empty cinemas of minors was met with criticism on social media, with media outlets affiliated with opposition parties claiming that the measures by the conservative New Democracy government were “authoritarian”.

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A 1937 law which provides movie-rating mechanisms and fines cinema employees that admit minors was updated in 2010.

Ουσα η φιλενάδα του Τζόκερ πρέπει να πω πως όλο αυτό με τους ανήλικους στους σινεμάδες είναι οβεργουέλμινγκ #joker #JokerFilm #Joker2019 #jokerGreece

— peculiar (@vverypeculiar) October 22, 2019