Grotesque film banned by censors
Grotesque will not be shown in the UK
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By Alistair Potter. |  |
Wednesday, 19, Aug 2009 03:30
By Sarah Garrod
A Japanese film called Grotesque will not be shown in the UK, a board of censors has ruled.
The Grotesque DVD, according to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), was ruled 'unacceptable for the public'.
It is very rare for a film not to be given classification by the BBFC, which usually gives an 18 certificate to films of such violence. However, Grotesque disturbed the board so much, it made it illegal for it to be sold or supplied in the UK.
The BBFC said the film has running themes of sexual assault, humiliation and extreme torture. It added there were moments of extreme gore, including eye gouging, amputation and castration.
David Cooke, director of the BBFC said: "Unlike other recent 'torture' themed horror works, such as the Saw and Hostel series, Grotesque features minimal narrative or character development and presents the audience with little more than an unrelenting and escalating scenario of humiliation, brutality and sadism.
"The chief pleasure on offer seems to be in the spectacle of sadism (including sexual sadism) for its own sake.
"It is the board's carefully considered view that to issue a certificate to Grotesque, even if statutorily confined to adults, would involve risk of harm within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, would be inconsistent with the board's guidelines, and would be unacceptable to the public. The BBFC has a strict policy on sexual violence. With portrayals of sexual violence which might eroticise or endorse sexual assault the board may require cuts at any classification level."
However, under the terms of the Video Recordings Act distributors can appeal the decision.
Mr Cooke added: "Rejecting a work outright is a serious matter and the board considered whether the issue could be dealt with through cuts. However, given the unacceptable content featured throughout cutting the work is not a viable option in this case and the work is therefore refused a classification."
A spokesperson for 4Digital Asia responded to the decision, saying: "We knew that the BBFC was debating the content of the film quite intensely but we had expected to receive from the BBFC a list of recommended cuts enabling the film to be passed with an 18 certificate. We are now considering whether or not to appeal against the board's decision."