Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan Inc. was forced to stop release of a psycho-thriller video after receiving complaints from autistic patients whose condition is used in the Japanese title of the video, it was learned Thursday.
The movie in question was to go on sale May 11 with the Japanese title, "Asperger, Shi no Danran," the latter part meaning "Pleasure of death." It is an American thriller produced in 1999 under the original title "Absence of the Good."
Asperger syndrome is a type of autism. Patients suffering from the syndrome said the title is irrelevant because the word is not mentioned in the original English title and the movie has nothing to do with the condition.
A Sony Pictures official said the company used the term "Asperger," which was mentioned in a newspaper article, without carefully checking its meaning because it sounded good. It will consider releasing the movie under a new Japanese title, the official added.
The company will dispose of several thousand copies of the movie it has already manufactured. However, several thousand videotapes sold by other firms that contain previews of the movie have already been distributed.