Censorship

[Peter Neal]

Originally Posted by Angel

Wasn't Irreversible passed uncut there, Peter?.

Yes, it was! And with the full blessing of our ratings board, the "FSK", meaning it can't end up on the "BPJM"'s dreaded index....."It's art, you know..."
German ratings and censorship decisions are a sad testament to cultural snobbery. Particularly Cannes winners, however graphic, are always treated very liberally, whereas horror....you get the picture.

Originally Posted by Angel

What notoriously violent films have been passed uncut in Germany? Because presumably even they don't cut everything..

No, but they have no problem putting thousends of titles on the "index of restricted movies", meaning they're only available in "adult's only" stores with no public advertising allowed and HUGE restrictions on internet sales within Germany.
Plus, recent horror movies like "Saw 3" (Unrated), "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" (further censored R-Rated), "Haute Tension" (censored and uncut) and many more are still rotting on the "B list" of the index to share the fate of "Hostel Part II".

Originally Posted by Angel

I think banning a film is pointless when cuts could easily remedy the situation. Apart from one or two quite extreme scenes of violence Hostel 2 is fairly tame.

Agreed. But in the current conservative climate in Germany, the censors are doing their best to get things back to the repressive state of the 80's.
"Banning "Hostel Part II" was their way of making "a point". This is just the beginning....


BTW: If you don't understand the whole censorship process in Germany...never mind! In the name of "Youth Protection", they've created the most complex system imaginable...a minor science in itself and very, very dependant on the subjective take of individual boards and often relying on very counterproductive decisions by opposing institutions....


PS: Due to the insane conditions there will be three different DVD versions of "John Rambo" and 4 (!) alternate cuts of "Saw IV" released on the German language market... I guess that about says it all.

[vipco]

Peter, when I was last in Germany, admittedly afew years ago, the sex shops there had a lot of bizarre porn films for sale.
Do the censors look at porn differently.?
I know some of the films I saw on the shelves wouldn't meet BBFC standards. Well, I hope they wouldn't .

I also noticed in Denmark, the situation was the same.
Even ordinary shops , well they seem like ordinary shops , had a selection of 'Adult' films.
How come porn seems to be so acceptable in mainland Europe and other forms of extreme cinema seem to be frowned upon.?

BTW, I dont take short breaks touring Europe's Red Light districts, I just sortta end up in them anywhere I go.

[siccoyote]

I would guess maybe in Europe they see Violence as more of a danger than sex, I know it's madness

[Angel]

What parts of Europe is extreme cinema frowned upon apart from Germany & the UK?

As far as I know there is very little censorship in most European countries.

As far as the BBFC are concerned you can show pretty much anything these days apart from extreme sexual violence.

[vipco]

Sorry, I was refering to around the time period when I was in Germany and Demark, about 96 was the last time I was in Germany I think.
I ment at that time films like Cannibal Holocaust was banned in Findland Norway . These countries didnt lift the ban till 2001 Findland, Norway 2005, but were more relaxed when it came to porn.
Thats what I don't understand.
If Germany is so worried about what its youth is subjected to then surely weird porn is just as harmfull .

Today countries like Spain and Ireland a will still ban or cut films with extreme views on the Church or religion . I think Driller Killer is still banned in Ireland on religious grounds.

[Angel]

Spain abolished censorship for adults some years ago, Vipco.

I don't know a great deal about porn but that's an interesting question.
Is german censorship more lenient than the UK regarding porn?

Films in the UK have often been banned or cut on the grounds of Blasphemy but that law has now been repealed , which means Visions of Ecstasy and Multiple Maniacs can now pass uncut.

[vipco]

I just realised about spain, but when I rushed back to change my post you already beat me to it. LOL

I am not a big fan of porn so I don't know what the BBFC alow, but as they don't allow cruelty to animals , then it seems the German censors are more lenient reguarding porn.

Ireland still has a blasphemy law though Northern Ireland were im from would have unfortunately dropped its blasphemy law as its part of the UK .

What sad times we live in. At least were being punished for dropping the blasphemy law, as Windgroves snooze fest is legally thrust upon us for are sins.

[trench]

Regarding the current censorship issues in Germany, I remember reading how, back in the day, some films were released with added gore for the German (and Japanese) market! Can't remember where I read it, but it was a few years ago anyway. Can't remember any titles either, I'm being slightly useless today!

[Angel]

Sounds like the 60's/70's when Hammer films reportedly contained extra gore for the Japanese market. Can't say I've heard about Germany being included though but possibly as they were perhaps a lot more liberal than they are today. This surely can't be for recent films though considering their record at the moment.

[trench]

Nah, they certainly weren't recent films. I'm thinking maybe 70's/80's horror films released back then. I read about it maybe five years ago, so I don't remember any details at all, save for the fact that a few films contained extra gore / violence.