The Russian government blocked the screening of a movie about a North Korean defector a week before its scheduled release, according to the film’s Moscow-based distributor.

Hana Korea, a movie inspired by a North Korean defector’s account of adjusting to life in South Korea, was denied a license required for screening, distribution company U Films said in a statement Thursday. 

The specific reason for the denial is unclear, U Films said, with authorities citing the Russian culture ministry’s regulation allowing for broad refusals under unspecified provisions of federal law.

“We are very sorry that Russian audiences will not be