when the film premièred at the 1968 acapulco film festival, a full-scale riot broke out. the film was later banned in mexico. roman polanski (who was there with his wife sharon tate to promote his film "rosemary's baby") defended the film, stating that he defends any auteur's right of expressing himself with complete liberty and that censorship in art and culture was just not acceptable (as had happened to him in his motherland).