Lesbian Themed IFC Film ‘Wild Canaries’ Banned by Idaho Theater

“Wild Canaries” is a bit too wild for Idaho.

In the town of Sadpoint, Idaho, The Panida Theater has pulled two scheduled screenings of the murder mystery, which played at SXSW this year, for what it deemed “inappropriate content that was not disclosed” — though one cast member claims the film is under attack for gay themes and drug use on screen.

In a statement linked from their Facebook page, Panida’s executive director Patricia Walker White said the IFC Films release “contained subject matter not in keeping with the standards of the Panida and I have chosen to cancel screenings for Friday and Saturday matinee. I apologize for any inconvenience.”

Cast member Sophia Takal, however, charges the Panida with exaggerating the movie’s content to forward its own agenda about what is appropriate for Sandpoint residents.

“They said there was drug use, sex and language and the movie was NR but should have been rated R. They’ve played R rated movies before and movies with drugs and violence according to some Facebook comments,” Takal said in a Facebook post of her own that appears to have been taken down, but is embedded below.

“‘Wild Canaries’ has no nudity, no sex scenes. It has two scenes where a guy is smoking marijuana. It has two lesbian main characters. It’s hard not to jump to the conclusion that that’s why they pulled it,” she wrote.

Representatives for Takal and the Panida have not yet returned TheWrap’s request for comment.

“Wild Canaries” opened in a very limited run in late February. It currently ranks 84% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. As for Sandpoint moviegoers, the Panida will show the previously scheduled “The Mask You Live In” on Saturday night, a documentary exploring masculinity in America.