Millions of Internet users have paid almost six dollars each to watch an online movie called "The Interview." The film has deeply angered North Korea. It also has led many Americans to debate what actions to take when facing threats to free expression.
数百万互联网用户每人花了6美元左右观看了一部网上电影《刺杀金正恩》。这部电影深深激怒了朝鲜。同时也引发了美国人开始争论当言论自由遇到威胁时应该采取什么样的行动。
The controversial film is a product of Sony Pictures of Burbank, California. In the movie, two American journalists get a chance to meet with North Korean President Kim Jong Un. The Central Intelligence Agency asks the two to kill Mr. Kim, and they agree.
这部备受争议的电影由加州伯班克的索尼影业出品。在影片中，两名美国记者获得了与朝鲜领导人金正恩见面的机会。美国中央情报局要求这两名记者刺杀金正恩，他们同意了。
The Americans join forces with a woman officer in the Korean People's Army and shoot down the president's helicopter. This takes place just as he is preparing to launch nuclear missiles.
这两人同朝鲜人民军的一位女军官联合起来，击落了金正恩的直升机。这刚好发生在金正恩准备发射核导弹的时候。
Some people criticize the film for plotting the violent death of a government leader. Others have said the film's storyline and situations are not at all serious. They say they are meant only to be funny. Still others praise "The Interview" because it shows the freedom of expression that American moviemakers enjoy.
有人批评这部电影密谋一位政府领导人的暴死。也有人说，这部电影的故事情节和情境一点也不严重。他们说大家只是为了搞笑。还有人称赞《刺杀金正恩》这部电影，因为它展示了美国电影制作人享受的言论自由。
The North Korean government was not pleased when it learned about the film. The government began to object publicly last June, months before "The Interview" was to open in theaters. North Korea called the movie "an act of war." It threatened what it called "merciless" reaction.
朝鲜政府了解这部电影后很不满。该国政府去年6月开始公开反对，当时距离《刺杀金正恩》上映还有数月。朝鲜政府称这部电影是一种“战争行为”，并威胁要进行它所谓的“无情”回击。
In November, Sony Pictures suffered a major cyberattack. A group calling itself "Guardians of Peace" claimed responsibility for stealing all kinds of material from Sony's computers. Movies were released online before their planned openings in theaters. The company lost millions of dollars.
到了11月，索尼影业遭受了严重的网络攻击。一家自称《和平卫士》的组织声称对从索尼影业窃取各种资料负责。电影在原计划的影院上映之前在网上发布。该公司损失了数百万美元。
The attackers also made public medical records of Sony employees and e-mails insulting movie stars. Altogether, the cyberattack has been a financial and public relations disaster for the moviemaker.
袭击者还公布了索尼员工的医疗记录以及侮辱电影明星的邮件。总而言之，这次网络攻击对索尼影业来说是一场财务和公关的大灾难。
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation worked to solve the mystery of the attack. It blamed North Korean hackers. But North Korea denied any involvement.
美国联邦调查局意图揭开这次网络攻击的神秘面纱。它指责朝鲜黑客攻击，但朝鲜否认有任何牵连。
An intelligence group called Norse also investigated. It says at least one former Sony Pictures employee was responsible. The employee reportedly was angry after being dismissed by Sony. Both the company and the federal agency continue to say they have found the true attacker.
一家名为Norse的情报组织也展开了调查。该组织表示，至少有一名前索尼员工涉案。据报道，这名员工在被索尼解雇后非常生气。Norse公司和联邦机构还说，他们已经找到了真正的攻击者。
Whoever was responsible, on Dec. 16th Sony cancelled the planned release of "The Interview." It said most major theaters were refusing to show the film during the winter holiday season. The theaters noted threats made to their customers. Some said they would not show the movie at any time.
无论谁该对此负责，在12月16日，索尼影业取消了《刺杀金正恩的》原定发布。该公司表示，绝大部分大影院都拒绝在圣诞节日期间上映该影片。这些影院注意到了顾客面临的威胁。一些影院表示，他们任何时间都不会上映该影片。
But a number of filmmakers, actors and politicians objected to the cancellation. Pressure built for Sony Pictures to release the movie. Many people wanted the company to show that threats could not suppress free expression.
但很多制片人、演员和政治家反对取消影片上映。要求索尼影业发布该影片的压力顿生。很多人都希望该公司能够表明威胁不能抑制言论自由。
President Barack Obama also offered his opinion on the issue. He said he sympathized with Sony's position. But he said the cancellation could have the effect of interfering with freedom of expression.
奥巴马总统就此问题也提出了自己的观点。奥巴马说他同情索尼影业的处境。但他表示，取消影片上映可能会产生干预言论自由的效果。
On December 23rd, Sony officials announced a limited release of the film. They said chosen movie theaters in the United States would show the movie on Christmas Day.
12月23日，索尼官方宣布限量发行该影片。他们表示，美国特定影院会在圣诞节放映该影片。
Mr. Obama has not said if he watched the movie. But he praised its release.
奥巴马尚未言明他是否看过这部电影。但他对影片上映表示赞扬。
In North Korea, it would be hard for many people to see "The Interview" even if they wanted to. The Internet is highly restricted in the country. Many people could not pay to watch the film. And expert observers say those North Koreans who do watch it probably would be deeply offended and confused.
在朝鲜，很多人都很难看到《刺杀金正恩》，哪怕他们想看。该国的互联网高度限制。许多人没钱看电影。而专业观察员表示，看过这部电影的朝鲜人可能会被深深地冒犯和困扰。
On a visit to Pyongyang in 2013, VOA reporter Steve Herman spoke with several North Koreans. He says they appeared to believe their state-operated media and education system. He says the people seemed to think that the U.S. and its allies want to harm North Korean socialism and development.
美国之音记者史蒂夫·赫尔曼(Steve Herman)2013年访问平壤之际同几位朝鲜人进行了对话。赫尔曼说，朝鲜人似乎信任他们的国营媒体和教育体系。他说，朝鲜人们似乎认为美国及其盟国想要损害朝鲜的社会主业和发展。
Other observers say it would be hard for North Koreans to accept "The Interview" for what it was meant to be – just a funny movie.
还有观察员表示，朝鲜人很难接受《刺杀金正恩》仅仅是个喜剧片。
But could the film plant seeds of doubt about the North Korean government among North Korean citizens? Observers wonder if the freedom demonstrated in the movie could lead some North Koreans to question the tight controls of life in their country.
但这部电影是否能在朝鲜公民之中埋下质疑朝鲜政府的种子呢？观察员想知道这部电影中展示的自由是否能导致一些朝鲜人质疑他们国家对生活的严格管束。