'Schindler's List' finally banned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian censors have banned the showing of
\nthe Oscar-winning film Schindler's List, saying that it contains
\ntoo much violence and nudity.<\/p>\n
Soekanto, the Executive Director of the Film Censorship Board,
\ntold The Jakarta Post yesterday the decision was reached at the
\nboard's plenary meeting. The meeting was convened on Monday to
\ndecide on whether or not to pass the film, which has generated
\nquite a bit of controversy here.<\/p>\n
\"It was decided by acclamation, not voting, and most of the
\nattending members agreed that the film should be banned,\"
\nSoekanto explained. He added that, this time, the decision was
\nvalid because it was attended by 27 of the board's 45 members.<\/p>\n
The required quorum is 23.<\/p>\n
The board on May 24 had passed the film pending cuts of scenes
\nconsidered \"sadistic and pornographic.\" However, Soekanto
\nnullified the decision three days later, saying that two of the
\n24 votes were made by proxy.<\/p>\n
Schindler's List, which won seven Academy Awards, including
\nones for best film and best director, has spawned a debate in
\nIndonesia in the past two months as the nation waited for the
\ncensors' decision on whether or not to pass the film.<\/p>\n
The film is a dramatized account of a German profiteer who
\nsaved 1,100 Polish Jews from the Nazi's death camp during the
\nWorld War II.<\/p>\n
Many Moslem groups, including the influential Indonesian
\nUlemas Council (MUI), had wanted the film barred from the
\ncountry, saying that the film was Jewish propaganda.<\/p>\n
However, Soekanto said the board did not consider whether or
\nnot the film propagates Zionism. \"No, we didn't base our decision
\non that matter. It's purely because of the nudity and sadistic
\nactions.\"<\/p>\n
But Soekanto said that even if the board had approved the film
\nwith cuts, the film's director Steven Spielberg would likely have
\nwithdrawn it as he had insisted that Schindler's List be shown in
\nits entirety or not at all.<\/p>\n
This he did in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur insisted on cutting
\nsome of the scenes.<\/p>\n
Soekanto predicted the impact of barring the film would have a
\nsimilar result as what happened in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"The director will probably withdraw all his films, including
\nJurassik Park,\" Soekanto remarked.<\/p>\n
Lukman Harun, an activist with the Committee for Islam
\nSolidarity, cheered the board's decision to ban the film. In his
\nview, it spared the nation unnecessary problems.<\/p>\n
\"It's good. I say that because if the censors had passed the
\nfilm, they would had created more problems. We already have a
\npile of problems to solve,\" he explained to the Post last night.<\/p>\n
Lukman said that if the film were shown here, the worst case
\nscenario would be protests from Moslems all over Indonesia who
\nconsider the film to be Zionist propaganda.<\/p>\n
Rosihan Anwar, a senior journalist and noted film critic, also
\nwelcomed the government's decision, saying that Indonesia should
\nnot bow to Spielberg's demands because Indonesia has its own
\nmoral values.<\/p>\n
However, Rosihan Anwar who was a honorary guest at the first
\nscreening of the film at the board's office, said the film is
\nactually a good one to see, especially by Indonesia's younger
\ngeneration.<\/p>\n
\"Our younger people do not like to read, especially history.
\nSo, by seeing this more-than-three-hour film, they will get
\nlessons about the Nazi's, Jews and the holocaust. It's more
\npractical than reading a thick book.<\/p>\n
\"From an artistic point of view, it's really good. But, as we
\nknow, the director Steven Spielberg has vowed to withdraw the
\nfilm if it's not shown in its entirety. This is the problem
\nbecause there are a number of repulsive acts which need cutting,\"
\nRosihan said. (11)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/schindlers-list-finally-banned-1447893297",
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