"Da Vinci Code" under investigation in Italy 
By Eric J. Lyman 
Mon Jun 18, 8:53 PM ET
 
More than a year after its premiere, "The Da Vinci
Code" is being investigated by Italian state attorneys
on the grounds that it is "obscene" from a religious
perspective.

Earlier this year, a complaint against the film was
filed by a group of clergy near the Italian village of
Civitavecchia, where the state prosecutor's office
said it would open a criminal investigation into the
film. The complaint says the film violates Article 528
of Italy's Penal Code.

The complaint names 10 people, including director Ron
Howard and author Dan Brown.

The investigation means the case will have its day in
court in the seaside port village about 40 miles north
of Rome, though a judge could elect to throw out the
charges. But it is significant that the state
prosecutor agreed to investigate it.

It is unclear what the unnamed complainants --
reported by the state prosecutor to be Catholic clergy
from the area -- are seeking.

Under the terms of Article 528 of the Penal Code, if
found guilty the defendants will have a criminal
record in Italy and would each face jail time of at
least three months and fines of at least 103 euros
($139). Jail time is capped at three years, but there
is no upward limit on the fines, legal experts said.
The defendants cannot be extradited for the charges,
but they can be apprehended if they are already on
Italian soil.

The development comes as Howard is beginning
preproduction work here on "Angels and Demons," the
highly awaited sequel to "Da Vinci," also authored by
Brown.

Asked why the case is being opened now, some 13 months
after the film debuted at least year's Cannes Film
Festival, an official at the Civitavecchia state
prosecutor said he wasn't sure.

"I don't know," the official said in a telephone
interview. "Maybe they (the clergy who filed the
complaint) have just seen the film."

Both the book and film version of "Da Vinci" attracted
widespread criticism from religious groups, but this
appears to be the first time parties have taken legal
action against the work.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter