Clear Conscience?…Clearcast consider domestic violence awareness advert too violent for TV

Based on article from independent.co.uk

TV advertising censors have branded an anti-domestic violence advert starring Keira Knightley ‘too shocking’ for TV, and are refusing to allow it to be broadcast unless key scenes are cut. The ad shows the actress returning home from a film set, where she is confronted by a violent boyfriend who accuses her of having an affair with a co-star, before launching into a vicious attack. The disturbing footage ends with Knightley left sprawled on the floor, being repeatedly kicked. The Cut was made for the charity Women’s Aid, and launched in cinemas at the beginning of this month. It seems pathetic. It is really important to raise awareness about domestic violence, and TV gets into people’s homes said Sandra Horely, chief executive of Refuge, a charity that provides accommodation for women and children escaping from domestic violence. It was hoped that the ad would air on TV this month, but it will now only be seen on British television if scenes showing Knightley being thrown to the floor and kicked are axed. The reason we are still in conversation with Clearcast about it is because they believe it is too violent, said Chris Hirst, managing director of Grey London Advertising Agency, which created The Cut. Some believe that Clearcast is being overly cautious in failing to approve the full advert, and that advertisers are reluctant to even try to address the issue for fear of being censored. You can’t tread softly-softly on these issues. It is important that we have these public awareness campaigns, and that the message gets to the people affected by it, said the Labour MP Kerry McCarthy. The Advertising Standards Authority has received just two complaints from the public about the new campaign, both of which were from viewers who saw the unedited version on the Women’s Aid website.

A Plague of Whingers…ASA find in favour of advert highlighting dangers of buying drugs via internet

Based on article from asa.org.uk

A cinema ad, about the dangers of purchasing prescription-only medicines over the Internet, showed a man in a kitchen. He took a tablet from a packet and swallowed it. Shortly afterwards he reached into his mouth and pulled out a tail; he appeared to gag as a dead rat gradually emerged from his mouth, tail first. The voice-over stated Rat poison. Just one of the dangerous ingredients that may be found in fake medicines purchased from illegal websites. The man held the rat out in front of him; it dropped to the floor as he turned to the sink and appeared to vomit. On-screen text stated GET REAL. GET A PRESCRIPTION; a web address was shown below. 12 complainants objected that the ad was offensive Most of the complainants objected that the ad was unduly distressing Seven of the complainants also objected that the ad was misleading, because they understood that some legally prescribed medicines also contained dangerous ingredients such as rat poison Three of the complainants also objected that the ad was likely to cause particular distress to people who took those legally prescribed medicines that contained dangerous ingredients. Assessment Not upheld Complaints 1 & 2 The ASA noted the ad was intended to raise awareness of a serious issue and was designed to be hard-hitting so as to achieve the desired impact. We also noted the CAP Code stated that, without good reason, ads should not cause fear and distress or include shocking claims or images simply to attract attention. We considered that the ad included images that some people might find offensive or distressing. Because the ad was designed to highlight an important issue, the dangers of which could result in damage to health or in fatality, we considered the metaphor of regurgitating a rat was likely to justify, for most people, the approach. We noted the ad was restricted to being shown with 15 or 18 rated films and considered that was sufficient to minimise the number of younger people who saw it. We considered that the aim of the ad justified the use of hard-hitting imagery. We concluded that it did not cause fear and distress without good reason and was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence. Complaint 3 We understood some prescription medicines contained an ingredient that might also be used in rat poison. We considered that people were likely to realise that the aim of the ad was to raise awareness of the dangers of buying medicines from unregulated sources. We considered they were unlikely to infer that only medicines bought from unregulated sources contained potentially dangerous ingredients. We concluded that the ad was not misleading. Complaint 4 We noted patient organisations were involved in the campaign and represented people who used warfarin. We acknowledged that patients prescribed medicines that contained potentially dangerous ingredients, including warfarin, might feel that the ad had particular significance to them. We considered however that they were likely to be aware of the associated dangers and the importance of drugs being prescribed and supervised by qualified medical professionals. We concluded that the ad did not cause undue fear and distress to people who took prescribed drugs that contained potentially dangerous ingredients.

That’s the Spirit…The Spirit uncut and rated 15 on DVD

The uncut region 2 DVD is available at UK Amazon for release on 25th May 2009 The uncut UK Blu-ray is available at UK Amazon for release on 25th May 2009 The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon The uncut US Blu-ray is available at US Amazon

The Spirit is a 2008 US action film by Frank Miller (Lions Gate) The uncut version was duly passed 15 by the BBFC in 2009 but there is also a cut 12 rated version noted as The Theatrical Version. Previously the BBFC cut the cinema release in 2008 with the following comment: Distributor chose to make cuts to achieve a 12A classification, removing: focus on knives as a group of hoodlums surround and threaten a woman; sight of the hero mounting his foe on the ground and repeatedly punching him in the head; sight of a severed finger flying towards the camera; and part of a man’s rib-cage embedded in the ground. A 15 certificate without cuts was available.

Take Courage…Courage Beer poster banned by the advert censor

Um…isn’t bringing confidence one of the important things that beer actually does for people. 16th April 2009. Based on article from asa.org.uk

A poster, for Courage beer, showed a nervous looking man sitting on a sofa with a can and glass of beer beside him. A woman was standing with her back to him wearing a figure-hugging dress that had its sales label still attached. Text, in a speech bubble coming from a large pint of beer, stated TAKE COURAGE MY FRIEND. Three members of the public believed the poster implied that the beer would give the man confidence to either make negative comments on the woman’s appearance or take advantage of her. ASA Assessment: Upheld The ASA noted Wells & Youngs Brewing Company comments that the text TAKE COURAGE MY FRIEND was a call to action to buy Courage over other beers and also that it used the brand name in a manner that was evocative of earlier campaigns. However, we considered that the combination of the text and the image of the man with an open beer can and half empty glass of beer was likely to be understood by consumers to carry the clear implication that the beer would give the man enough confidence to tell the woman that the dress was unflattering. We did not consider that consumers generally would believe that the poster suggested that the man would be unnecessarily negative or take advantage of the woman, but would simply tell the truth. Although we understood the humorous intention of the scenario, we concluded that the poster breached the Code by suggesting that the beer could increase confidence. Comment: Dutch Courage 17th April 2009. Thanks to Alan, See letters from guardian.co.uk The same point about courage is made in a letter to the Guardian today: Who are these people who persuaded the Advertising Standards Authority to rule that beer does not increase courage? I hope that Courage Brewers have the conviction to stand up to such an absurd denial of the facts. Alcohol reduces both fear and inhibitions. Dutch or otherwise, courage is courage. Dr Allan Dodds Consultant neuropsychologist, Nottingham

Politically Correct…Cuts to Uwe Boll’s Postal

See pictorial cuts from movie-censorship.com See also cuts from alternative versions on IMDb

Postal is a 2007 US/Canada/Germany action comedy by Uwe Boll (Metrodome) No cuts by the BBFC to the Metrodome DVD in 2008 but the cut US version was submitted. The uncut German DVD runs 6:26s longer. There is a US Directors Cut due for release though which runs at 117mins in NTSC The cuts were basically to remove sexual innuendo and Taliban jokes presumably for reasons of political correctness Richard telling that an follower of D.O.O.M. works at Little Germany and will smuggle them in. While the Taliban walk to their van to get to Little Germany, Osama yells “Shotgun” so he can sit on the front seat. A sleepy Uncle Dave getting woken by Dude so he’ll go to Little Germany too. Longer suncream scenes. Dude telling Richard to stop speaking with a queer German accent on the walkie. Followed by an conversation between Dude and Dave about Richard’s retard-status. Extended report of what happened with the Little Germany Security Guards. Communication problems between Osama and Mohammed about the van that is parked outside. Mohammed telling the Taliban that Tariq knows where Dave and his girls live, because he visits them frequently. Instead of just announcing the show “They had it coming” about the victims of 9/11, they showed portions of it before the Taliban switched channels. Dave not believing Richard believes the stuff he wrote in his Bible when he was stoned. Dude trying to defend himself in the bunker, but getting beat down by Starr. Dave promising he won’t smoke anything again if that makes Richard happy. When Mohammed asks for volunteers to wear an explosive belt, a Taliban volunteers Mohammed. But Mohammed declines, saying he would be happy to do so, but it is forbidden to him. The Taliban congratulate Abdul the retarded Taliban on his “luck”. Seminar guy talks about Side 5 in his book which helps enslaving employees without having to use chains. But for those who want to be on the safe side he also sells chains. The baby-stroller scene is extended and shows an actual baby inside the stroller. Mohammed keeps the Taliban from getting out of the van in the final shootout for quite a while, so he can be safe a little longer. Osama trying to get some change back from the coin-operated telephone. Dude feeding his dog with an disembodied hand near the end. Note that the US unrated version is the same cut movie as the R rated version but had deleted scenes added to the end credits

Wishing for an 18 Certificate…Supporting the hype for Wishbaby

Based on article from dailymail.co.uk

The BBFC initially gave a 15 rating to Wishbaby, which is billed as a savage fairytale. But director Stephen Parsons demanded an increase in the rating to 18, insisting the film was meant for adults only. In one sequence a teenager is shown having his eyeball gouged out with a hat pin while other teens record his misery on mobile phones. Another shows a mother being suffocated and beaten to death with a hammer. [Beware of Daily Mail exaggeration] Parsons said he was concerned that children as young as 12 and 13 would be able to see the film if they looked old for their age or had slightly older friends. He said: I deliberately set out to make a horror film for an adult audience. If my daughter had been allowed to see a movie like this when she was 15 I would have been extremely concerned. I assumed my film would have an automatic 18 rating. It includes scenes of kids doing horrific things to each other. When I was told it had been given a 15 certificate I was disturbed, not least because one of the scenes, which involved a character being filmed as he was tortured and the footage being sent around via mobile phones, could have incited copycats. Parsons made a formal complaint to the BBFC, which reviewed the film and agreed it needed an 18 certificate. In a letter to Parsons the BBFC said: We ultimately agreed that the cumulative effect of the sex, violence and drug use just tips the film into the lower end of 18. A spokesman for the classification body said: On some occasions, particularly in the horror genre, film companies and producers prefer a higher rating because it makes the film appear to be more graphic or frightening than it is. They feel that a 12A or 15 rating makes the film less appealing to those who enjoy horror films. This was the case with the recent Nicholas Cage film The Wicker Man when we gave it a 12A rating, but producers wanted a 15 rating. We assessed the film under our guidelines and stuck with the original decision. Parsons is now calling for the BBFC to review the standards it uses to classify films. He said: It is widely accepted in the film business that the standards used by the BBFC are all over the place. In fact there are no standards any more.

Disney Unsuitable for Children…Researchers find Disney films with inappropriate personal contact of children by adults

Based on article from telegraph.co.uk

Carleton University researcher Classic Disney cartoon films are giving children the wrong message about how to deal with stranger danger, psychologists have warned. They claim films like Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Robin Hood contain scenes in which children receive unwanted personal contact or threatening approaches from adults, and that the victims fail to set a good example in the way they respond. The study warns that the films also undermine efforts to teach children about personal safety and how to minimise the risk of sexual abuse, by treating the victims’ discomfort with humour. In one example, the researchers found that the Pinocchio had been groomed by the adult characters Honest John and Gideon but that his response to the abuse resembled victim blaming. The report says: It is possible that viewing these scenes could influence children to believe that telling a trusted adult about a stranger’s advances is unnecessary because the film characters model successful independence. The academics wrote that they were surprised to find depictions of children being touched, usually by adults, contrary to the expressed desires of the child. The research, published in the journal Child Abuse, was conducted by a team of psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists at Carleton University, in Canada. They studied 47 animated feature length Disney films, released between 1937 and 2006. In ten of them, they found examples of unwanted personal contact or scenes which show child characters in risky situations. The report concludes: The findings raise questions about potential impacts on child audiences. Is the unwanted contact and risky situation content appropriate viewing for children, given efforts to teach children sexual safety?

Cuts Laid to Rest…Latest DVD of The Oblong Box is uncut

The uncut region 2 DVD is available at UK Amazon The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon

The Oblong Box is a 1969 UK horror film by Gordon Hessler (Optimum) The 2009 DVD from Optimum is uncut Peviously the 1969 cinema release was cut by the BBFC and the same cuts persisted to the 1987 Guild video and the 1993 Vision video From cuts details on IMDb About 1m of the pre-credits sequence (various small trims) is missing a scene in which Vincent Price and Hilary Dwyer walk in a garden talking about Africa The murders of Carl Rigg and Uta Levka were abridged Ute Levka’s brief nude shots were missing A short scene in which Christopher Lee administers a tonic to a patient was removed.

Vase de Noces…Dangerous pictures of pigs in a new Swedish DVD

Thanks to Joshua See article from njutafilms.com

The censorship icon, Vase de Noces, is a 1974 Belgian art house film by Thierry Zeno. The black and white film without dialogue which was very controversial in its day. It was programmed for the London Film Festival until Customs seized it. It did get a showing at the NFT in 1976 though. It’s never got as far as the BBFC. It’s about a man who lives alone on a farm with his pigs. He falls in love with the sow, has sex with her (simulated). She then gives birth to human/porcine hybrids. The DVD is now set to be released on 27th May 2009 by the Swedish distributor Njuta Films. As to whether the simulated sex scenes with a pig are realistic enough to get Brits 2 years in prison for dangerous pictures, then a bit of further research may be in order.

I Am Not a Number…BBFC bans BDSM video NF713

Based on article from bbfc.co.uk

NF713 is a BDSM video by China Hamilton (Mista Solutions)

Rejected in 2009 with the BBFC justification:

NF713 takes the form of an extended sequence in which a man tortures a woman psychologically, physically and sexually. The woman is bound and restrained throughout and the man in question is in a position of absolute power and control over her. The man tortures the woman in order to make her confess her crimes against an unnamed ‘State’ but his ultimate aim is to break her down and make her fully compliant, eradicating her individuality and making her a mere number, ‘NF713′.

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