'Schindler's List' finally banned

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian censors have banned the showing of the Oscar-winning film Schindler's List, saying that it contains too much violence and nudity.

Soekanto, the Executive Director of the Film Censorship Board, told The Jakarta Post yesterday the decision was reached at the board's plenary meeting. The meeting was convened on Monday to decide on whether or not to pass the film, which has generated quite a bit of controversy here.

"It was decided by acclamation, not voting, and most of the attending members agreed that the film should be banned," Soekanto explained. He added that, this time, the decision was valid because it was attended by 27 of the board's 45 members.

The required quorum is 23.

The board on May 24 had passed the film pending cuts of scenes considered "sadistic and pornographic." However, Soekanto nullified the decision three days later, saying that two of the 24 votes were made by proxy.

Schindler's List, which won seven Academy Awards, including ones for best film and best director, has spawned a debate in Indonesia in the past two months as the nation waited for the censors' decision on whether or not to pass the film.

The film is a dramatized account of a German profiteer who saved 1,100 Polish Jews from the Nazi's death camp during the World War II.

Many Moslem groups, including the influential Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), had wanted the film barred from the country, saying that the film was Jewish propaganda.

However, Soekanto said the board did not consider whether or not the film propagates Zionism. "No, we didn't base our decision on that matter. It's purely because of the nudity and sadistic actions."

But Soekanto said that even if the board had approved the film with cuts, the film's director Steven Spielberg would likely have withdrawn it as he had insisted that Schindler's List be shown in its entirety or not at all.

This he did in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur insisted on cutting some of the scenes.

Soekanto predicted the impact of barring the film would have a similar result as what happened in Malaysia.

"The director will probably withdraw all his films, including Jurassik Park," Soekanto remarked.

Lukman Harun, an activist with the Committee for Islam Solidarity, cheered the board's decision to ban the film. In his view, it spared the nation unnecessary problems.

"It's good. I say that because if the censors had passed the film, they would had created more problems. We already have a pile of problems to solve," he explained to the Post last night.

Lukman said that if the film were shown here, the worst case scenario would be protests from Moslems all over Indonesia who consider the film to be Zionist propaganda.

Rosihan Anwar, a senior journalist and noted film critic, also welcomed the government's decision, saying that Indonesia should not bow to Spielberg's demands because Indonesia has its own moral values.

However, Rosihan Anwar who was a honorary guest at the first screening of the film at the board's office, said the film is actually a good one to see, especially by Indonesia's younger generation.

"Our younger people do not like to read, especially history. So, by seeing this more-than-three-hour film, they will get lessons about the Nazi's, Jews and the holocaust. It's more practical than reading a thick book.

"From an artistic point of view, it's really good. But, as we know, the director Steven Spielberg has vowed to withdraw the film if it's not shown in its entirety. This is the problem because there are a number of repulsive acts which need cutting," Rosihan said. (11)