The Da Vinci Code Coming With A Disclaimer?

The small sect of Catholics known as Opus Dei has been at the heart of notable criticism of Dan Brown's book, as well as the forthcoming Ron Howard film (scheduled for release on May 19th) "The Da Vinci Code." The group states clearly on their website ( read their press release )  that they are not planning to boycott and encourage people offended by the religious, and some say blasphemous, premise behind the movie to protest peacefully and constructively, explaining that their beliefs come from love and should be expressed calmly and in positive ways.

Since Opus Dei asserts that they are working in the interest of a non-aggressive devotion to their faith, they are trying to get their message across through Sony, petitioning the studio to add a disclaimer to the film. Opus Dei believes its group is portrayed in the book, and subsequently the film, as a breed of religious mafia that stops at nothing to conceal the truth and maintain control.

E!Online quoted a letter written by Opus Dei to Sony earlier this month stating, "Some media have written that Sony is weighing the possibility of including--at the start of the film--a disclaimer that would declare this a work of fiction and that any resemblance to reality is purely a coincidence." Clearly, Opus Dei favors this idea and would be well served by the inclusion of such a disclaimer. So much so that their letter also suggested that the value of Sony stock might drop if it did not add something blatantly labeling the film as fiction.

The only answer Sony has for Opus Dei came in the form of a general press release, which E!Online also referenced; "We have no plans to reveal any details regarding what is or isn't in the film until the release. [The Da Vinci Code is] a work of fiction, and at its heart, it's a thriller, not a religious tract." With the phenomenon that is a best-selling book (in excess of 40 million copies) turned most-anticipated mystery/suspense film of the year starring two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks and critically-acclaimed French actress Audrey Tautou, Sony doesn’t seem too concerned.

It appears that every movie to touch upon Biblical mythology, whether claiming to follow or challenge it, causes some kind of uproar across religious communities. "The Passion Of The Christ" is a prime example of what happens when religion comes to the big screen as personified by a specific vision. As for "Da Vinci" and the speculation beneath its painted veneer, this kind of theorizing is nothing new. It’s because of the fiction and the way the novel tells the story of a radical and shocking idea that the "Code" is so popular.