3rd August 2009.

As a member of the London Critics’ Circle, I get to do some fun stuff. There’s the annual film awards ceremony for a start and the various summer/Christmas parties organised on our behalf. Every now and again we are also invited to meet up with the key organizations within our industry too. And last week it was the turn of the British Board of Film Classification. The BBFC has just published their new guidelines regarding what’s acceptable within each of their seven categories. So it was a great chance to meet the board members and discuss what changes have been made to our viewing experiences. In the past I have been no fan of the board. Anyone who went through the Video Nasty tabloid frenzy nightmare resulting in the 1984 Video Recordings Act rarely had any kind words to say about the independent, non-governmental body. Back in those dark days former BBFC head James Ferman used to hold BAFTA seminars on the issues of censorship that became sold out events because he always showed clip reels of uncensored material. Watching these virtual ‘That’s Exploitation’ catalogues of gore, violence and sex often had the effect of changing people’s attitudes. Some rabid anti-censorship campaigners would go in only to emerge on Ferman’s side once the SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST castration footage started. Only people involved in the horror genre at the time, like myself who saw much of this ‘shocking’ footage happily available outside the UK, realised what a shameless and manipulative exercise this ‘naughty’ square-up reel actually was. I have always been of the opinion that nothing should be banned. If such imagery as witch torture from MARK OF THE DEVIL really did indeed deprave and corrupt then surely I’d have been in prison for at least 20 years already.  Much water has flowed under the bridge since then as contemporary daily life has impacted on the whole censorship debate. How can you stop anybody seeing anything they want on the Internet these days? But the BBFC still has to categorize movies to keep the public aware of their content and are bound by numerous laws (including the Obscene Publications Act 1959/64, The Protection of Children Act 1978, and The Animal Welfare Act 2006) to ensure nothing deemed illegal in Great Britain passes before our eyes. The most important change to the BBFC role as I see it is they have finally realised adults over 18 want to make their own choices on what to personally view and now rarely cut mainstream product. According to their own intensive research the BBFC found out that tone, impact and context are the most important public issues and that sexist, homophobic and racist language is now the key cause of their concern. Each category was fully explained to us and their classification parameters illustrated with clips. For example it was decided to keep the classic war film THE DAMBUSTERS a U certificate on DVD because the references to Nigger the dog were obviously dated in context. HAIRSPRAY was on the PG/12 cusp because of the line “Plastic little spastic’, but got a PG because it was a feel-good movie with positive messages overall. Unlike an episode of the FRIENDS sit-com upped from a PG to 12 because Rachel says ‘Spaz’ in a laundromat sequence. The dog attack in I AM LEGEND earned it a 15 despite the distributor wanting a 12 because of its more reality than fantasy basis. Perhaps one of the most eye-opening decisions made was from the 1974 short film HOME AND AWAY 1974 to be released by the BFI on DVD showing a group of schoolboys jokily glue-sniffing. That once U sequence has now earned the movie an 18 rating. WALTZ WITH BASHIR got an 18 because of the cartoon hardcore porno sequence and no problem was seen in giving ANTICHRIST an 18 despite its sexually violent imagery. Our visit ended with a tacky blood-and-nudity sequence from Nick Palumbo’s MURDER SET PIECES and why the board felt it was necessary to refuse it any certificate. Having seen this a few years ago and turned it down for FrightFest because it was so stupid, inept and trashy, I found myself in complete agreement with their decision. Not because I feel it should be banned but because Palumbo is such a nasty little poseur! Further info was provided about trailers – did you know that only one ‘fuck’ is allowed per 15 rated trailer? Or that the trailer causing the most problems recently was for A PERFECT GETAWAY – too many glinting knife points. And what causes the most calls to the BBFC switchboard? No not complaints about THE DARK KNIGHT 12A rating. It’s every time Judi Dench swears! As they patiently have to explain, Dame Judi’s script choices are hardly their concern. Thanks to all at the BBFC for an informative time, and the buffet lunch was lovely too.

Until next time.

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