Da Vinci Code provokes widespread protests ahead of Cannes premiere

CANNES, France (AP) - Christian groups as far away as South Korea, Thailand and India protested the movie The Da Vinci Code ahead of its premiere Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival, planning boycotts, a hunger strike and attempts to block or shorten screenings. Playing on the opening night at the 59th Cannes festival caps a huge marketing blitz for Ron Howard's adaptation of Dan Brown's best seller. The movie is not competing for prizes at the glitzy two-week film-fest in southern France, which runs through May 28. [More]