Tom Hardy's Gritty New Film Banned In Russia

Culture Ministry bosses, who claim the movie distorts historical facts, have withdrawn plans for its release this weekend (17Apr15) after a preview raised concerns about Hardy's character and the plot, set in Stalin-era Russia.

A statement suggests the film's release in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two is "unacceptable".

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky claims the movie depicts Russians as "physically and morally base sub-humans".