Censor board defers decision on `True Lies'
Censor board defers decision on `True Lies'
JAKARTA (JP): The Film Censorship Board (BSF) has deferred its decision on whether or not to stop the public screening of the action-comedy film True Lies until Saturday.
A plenary meeting of the board's 45 members yesterday, convened to review the film's status, failed to reach any decision after five hours of deliberations with board officials, saying that further discussion was needed before a final decision could be made.
The film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, has already passed the censors and has been showing in movie houses across Indonesia for the last two weeks. The board convened yesterday's special meeting to review the film once again in view of an appeal by the Indonesian Ulemas Council to withdraw the film.
Director General of Radio and Television Alex Leo Zulkarnain, who sits on the censor board, announced after the session that the board considered the ulema council's appeal, but that other issues must be considered as well.
"There are a lot of aspects to talk about. By law, a film can be banned if it creates instability and unrest," Alex said.
Talk of a possible ban has led to the film, rated by critics as mediocre, playing to full houses.
The film depicts an American hero, played by Schwarzenegger, foiling a sabotage on the United States by a Middle East terrorist group called Crimson Jihad.
Jihad is Arabic for true fighter, a term often used to describe those who fight for the cause of Islam. This usage has upset a number of Moslem leaders in Indonesia.
The Moslem leaders however are not united on the issue and some deplored their peers for fanning the controversy and giving the film free publicity.
Controversy
The MUI in its appeal to ban the film refrained from stating that it was an affront to Islam but said that the movie should be withdrawn because of the public controversy it has generated.
Alex yesterday refused to comment on the MUI's position.
Two MUI members who sit in the censorship board were not among the 28 of the 45 members who attended the meeting.
"We don't have any comment on MUI's statement. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, and we will pay attention to it," Alex said.
The MUI showed its muscle early this year when it pressured the censorship board into banning the Oscar-winning film Schindler's List because many Moslem leaders in Indonesia called it Zionist propaganda.
The board eventually banned the film on the grounds that it contained too much nudity and violence. (par) Editorial -- Page 4