Censorship

[Angel]

By the way Larry Clarks KEN PARK which was banned in Australia & New Zealand was passed uncut with a 15 rating in Sweden even though it contains several lengthy scenes of hardcore sex.
No BBFC submission although it was going in several years ago until that is there was an altercation between Clark and the distributor who then pulled out. It will be interesting to see what the BBFC make of it. Can't see it passing uncut myself even though it is a seriously made film, the sexualised suicide is likely to be the stumbling block. Clarks previous film KIDS is still cut here and will remain so probably forever.

[vipco]

Pity, as KIDS is a very powerful film, yes the language is strong and uncut the teenage sex though at times fumbled is deeply disturbing, but unfortunately , thats life.

[vincenzo]

These particular cuts (to Kids) were made in accordance with the Protection of Children Act.

[Angel]

Private Lessons was another film cut due to that act. But the cuts made to Emmanuelle's Sweet Revenge probably holds the record...nearly 7m.

[Peter Neal]

On the porn in Germany issue: Porn is basically treated like films on the "index", meaning it can be only sold and rented in "adult's only" stores.
But you're right: There's very little censorship regarding porn- at least upfront- because it simply gets released "unrated". But- believe it or not- even though the German censors are very liberal with sexual content, they also ban what they regard as "extreme porn" every now and then....but we're talking about stuff that wouldn't stand a second's chance with the BBFC to begin with.

The highest rating in most Scandinavian countries is "15" !!!!!
Finland is the only exception I know. They still have their "18"....and to be honest, buying a Fulci or "Cannibal Holocaust" with a "15" would feel somewhat less of a treat...at least for me.

On the "More Gore for the Germans" issue: Yes, that was actually true in the golden age of exploitation movies. For instance: The whole part with the zombies in the hospital in "The Beyond" was added to attract the German buyers, because "zombies" were "hip in Germany" back in the early 80's! That feels SOOOOO surreal from a 21.st century point of view....

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by Angel

Private Lessons was another film cut due to that act. But the cuts made to Emmanuelle's Sweet Revenge probably holds the record...nearly 7m.

The DVD of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was another. The earlier MIA video was uncut due to misinformation being given to the BBFC at the time.

Pretty Baby and The Tin Drum also had earlier problems with the PCA though these were later passed uncut. I'm not sure if the cinema cut to Taxi Driver was due to possible difficulties with the PCA as well but it could well have been.

[Angel]

Yes it was, however later on it transpired that it was in fact Jodie Foster's older sister who played out that particular sequence and so the cut has since been waived.

[Angel]

Peter, to what extent do censors in Germany cut scenes of animal cruelty? I was just wondering how it compared with the UK.

[Peter Neal]

They might object to scenes of animal cruelty in individual cases, but there's no specific legislation like in the UK forcing them to cut scenes of staged animal carnage or horsefalls etc.
For instance, the censored VHS release of "Cannibal Holocaust" back in the 80's contained all scenes of animal cruelty, yet a lot of the fake gore was snipped.
It was first the release of a fully uncut VHS (followed by identically complete DVDs) much later in the very late 90's, which prompted their overly concerned institutions to take action beyond a simple entry on the "index of restricted movies" list, resulting in CH to be finally banned for good in Germany.

BTW: The censors have to ban each release of a movie individually over there. That's why the likes of CH, Antro, Tenebrae etc are popping up time and again...untill the next ban.

[Angel]

Thanks very much, Peter.