'Babel' May Make You Sick

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TOKYO, May 2 (Reuters) Watching the Hollywood film ''Babel'' could make viewers feel ill, its Japanese distributor said in national newspaper advertisements published today.

At least 15 people have complained of feeling sick while watching the film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett since it was released in Japan on April 28, a spokeswoman for distributors Gaga Communications said.

The film, about the spiralling international consequences of a shooting in Morocco, became a media sensation in Japan well ahead of its release, as Rinko Kikuchi was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as a deaf mute schoolgirl -- rare recognition for a Japanese actress.

But a scene in which Kikuchi's character visits a night-club where strobe lights flash for about a minute has made some Japanese movie-goers queasy.

''This feature presentation includes some highly stimulating effects and some customers have complained of feeling ill,'' reads part of the warning, which the distributors have added to their Web site and also requested be displayed on posters at about 300 cinemas.

The film has already been shown in about 40 countries, Gaga said.

In 1997 an episode of the Japanese children's cartoon series ''Pokemon'' featuring flashing lights was blamed for hundreds of reported cases of symptoms from nausea to convulsions.