Film censorship: The past and present outlook

Tony Rianto, Contributor, Jakarta

Film censorship is always an interesting subject.

Back in 1972, Malaysia allowed "adult" films -- neither hard- core nor soft-core but only erotic because censorship restrictions were still in place -- to be released. Understandably, demand was high at the initial stages, but diminished with the passing of time.

However, in August 1973, Malaysia put an end to the showing of adult films. At the moment films are released in five categories: all ages (U); 18 years and above only, strong on violence and horror (18-SG); 18 years and above only, strong on sexual elements (18-SX); 18 years and above only, strong on religion and politics (18-PL); and 18 years and above only, combination (18- PA). All ratings are enforceable.

In July 1991, neighboring Singapore introduced R-rated films for moviegoers aged 18 and above. People flocked to the cinema to have a look at Jean-Jaques Annaud's The Lover, starring Tony Leung and Jane March. Film distributors were delighted and soon Hong Kong Category 3 films flooded into Singapore, causing public outcry, notably so because R-rated films were likewise shown at cinemas in residential areas.

Two months later, the age limit was raised to 21 and R became R(A), the A stands for artistic. A 1999 American film titled A Walk on the Moon, starring Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen, was given an R(A) rating because it's about a married woman falling for another man.

Like the adult films given the green light to be released in Malaysia in 1972, R(A) films shown in Singapore's downtown cinemas (no longer allowed at cinemas in residential areas) are not hard- or soft-core but erotic.

After more than 12 years, R(A) films are currently shown only in a small number of cinemas in certain localities. The size of the audiences is falling and ticket prices are often slashed, particularly for morning and afternoon shows.

At this time, films released in Singapore fall under four categories. First is G for general audiences, second PG for parental guidance, third (relatively new) for NC-16 (16 years and above only) and fourth for R(A) for 21 years old and above only. While PG is advisory, NC-16 and R(A) are enforceable.

Indonesia has never allowed the release of adult films. But in the late 1960s and early 1970s the Film Censorship Board had a rather trying time. There were a lot of importers and some tried to have sexually explicit films shown in the country even at the cost of drastic cuts.

At one time, films like Lady Godiva Rides (a U.S. independent film, or indie, and not the one starring Maureen O'Hara and George Nader), The Erotic Touch of Hot Skin (France), Agony of Love (U.S. indie), Camille 2000 (U.S. indie) and Fuego (Argentina, starring Isabel Sarli) made their way into Indonesian cinemas.

Once there was public outcry and the censorship board had to withdraw six hot titles from circulation for another bout of additional snipping.

Currently, the 45-member Film Censorship Institute headed by novelist Titi Said releases films under three categories: for all ages, for youngsters (aged 13-17) and adults (17 years and older).

To date, Jakarta has hosted four international film festivals. This means that entries are of a wide variety, particularly concentrating on films that win the hearts of critics but have somehow not been shown in Jakarta cinemas.

As manifested in Jakarta International Film Festivals (JIFFs), participating films come from various countries in the West and in the East and among them are art and festival movies of a nature that can seldom be seen in non-arthouse multiplexes.

I remember seeing a number of entries during the 2002 JIFF. On several occasions certain scenes seemed to have run counter to Indonesian film censorship criteria and therefore needed snipping.

But there was no snipping. Instead, a blurring system was used by way of putting something in front of the projector's lens. This is unique and laudable because it is a win-win solution. The film owner doesn't have his film cut, the audience does not lose the continuity of the plot and the censors are happy.

Only something that might have added a thrill to the eyes was blurred because it could have been considered objectionable.

Generally, there are no complaints regarding film censorship in Indonesia. Viewers of American Beauty could still get a glimpse of a half-nude Thora Birch. And when Kevin Spacey and Mena Suvari were about to get intimate, objectionable scenes were not entirely edited out, thus retaining the continuity of the storyline.

Also, audiences say the censors were not entirely merciless when they ordered the snipping of revealing scenes between Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie in Original Sin, the 2001 version of Francois Truffaut's Mississippi Mermaid (1969).

After all, good censorship standards, according to former censorship board chairmen Martono, RM Soetarto and Soemarmo, should remain ahead of time. What was considered objectionable in the past is no longer so today. Of course the censors must not be ahead of time or else there could be public outcry.

Back to Singapore, a number of its citizens expect the age limit of R(A) category films be reduced from 21 to 18. But as always, there are also people who wouldn't like to see the age ceiling changed.

Those who want or do not want a change are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a report to be published by the Censorship Review Committee (in charge not only of films but also of plays and other branches of the arts), in the first quarter of this year.

Engineer Derek Lee, 35, was quoted in the Straits Times as saying: "If an 18-year-old Singaporean male is considered old enough to wield a rifle in National Service, why is he not old enough to watch R(A) movies?"

Singapore is possibly the only country in the world to bar under 21s from movies that have serious adult themes and feature sex and violence.

In contrast, Indonesians having reached the age of 21 would very much like to have the opportunity to watch R(A) films as shown in Singapore. A horror film titled The Ring, a DreamWorks presentation, has been released here for adult audiences, but, believe it or not, in Singapore the film has been given a PG category, meaning that children may see it with or without adult supervision.