Film censorship: The past and present outlook

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.