Kiethman - Banned Films

Banned Films

By Victor Kiethman

For entertainment use only.

(c) Copyright OxBo Publishing 2013

For almost the entire history of film production, certain films have been banned by film censorship laws or reviewing organizations for political or moral reason. Censorship standards vary widely between countries, and can vary within any country due to political change or shifting moral attitudes. So films that were banned, maybe ten years ago, are not banned today, while still banned in other countries.
Many countries have government-appointed or private commissions to censor and rate productions of films and television shows. While it's common for films to be edited and placed into certain rating classifications, at times some are banned. This book details only films that have been explicitly prohibited for use by a country's government, banning citizens from watching it. This includes many Western countries.

Australia's ACB (Australian Classification Board, formerly known as the Office of Film and Literature Classification, or OFLC) uses the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995 as a guide for most of the censorship of films within their country; however, each state and territory is free to make additional legislation. In practice, films still get a brief cinematic viewing before being reviewed and prevented from being shown in cinemas or released on DVD/Blu-Ray. Many films which were previously banned are not mentioned in this book as they have since been released uncut on DVD. Not included are numerous pornographic films deemed too excessive to release under an X18+ category, and are refused classification by the ACB.

• 1964-1970 The Miracle, Viridiana, La Dolce Vita, Satyricon, The Silence, Blowup and Zabriskie Point. During the 1960s lots of films were banned. Presumably unbanned at some point, as all films (bar The Silence, which is included on Bergman's Faith Trilogy DVD, rated R18+) are now reclassified as M.
• 1971 Customs Minister Don Chipp begins the development of a new classification system which includes the much-needed R18+ rating for adult content; movies that were once banned are gradually released.
• 1972 Pink Flamingos. This film contained offensive content (exploitation, sexual violence, incest, adult themes, animal cruelty). First banned in 1976. It was re-rated R18+, with four minutes of footage removed. It was re-banned in 1981, and another three times in 1983. In 1984 it was given an X18+ (banned in all states, although legally for sale in the two Territories), uncut. Soon after, attitudes towards sexual violence became stricter in the X18+ category; thus, it would not be possible to earn the X18+ again. It was re-banned in 1997, this version being the "25th Anniversary Edition" which added extra scenes. The distributor this time cut only two minutes to receive an R18+. Allowed in a cut version (cut by the distributor, as the ACB does not cut films), rating R18+.
• 1974 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. High impact explicit violence. The ban was lifted in 1984. It was published uncut with a rating R18+
• 1975 Vase de Noces (also called Wedding Trough). Obscenity Under pressure from the Western Australian government, the Australian Classification Board decided to ban this art-house Belgian film for obscenity. The film was banned from being played at the Perth International Film Festival. However, the authorities lifted the ban temporarily and the film was allowed to be screened. In 1976, the government decided to re-ban the film. Still banned
• 1976 Sal o le 120 giornate di Sodoma. Offensive content (exploitation, sexual violence). Pasolini's Sal o le 120 giornate di Sodoma was banned at the time of release. This ban was then reversed in 1993; the film was re-rated R18+ for a theatrical release. However, the ACB re-banned it in 1998 for "offensive cruelty with high impact". It was then approved for DVD-only release in 2010, uncut. Allowed uncut, rated R18+
• 1980 Caligula. Explicit scenes of sex and violence. In 1981 the ban was lifted, and a modified version with the rating R18+ was allowed. In 1984 the uncut version was released, and it received an X18+ rating. Later in 1984, the ACB decided to forbid movies containing sexual violence and the movie was re-banned. Ever since, the movie has fluctuated between X18+ and R18+ (depending on the version). In 2010, the ACB refused the "Imperial Edition" DVD of Caligula a classification; it was also refused in 2005. Still banned; arguably the widest-released of all banned films (in worldwide terms) which is not available uncut in Australia.
• 1984 Cannibal Holocaust. Explicit gore/gruesome scenes. The ban was lifted in 2005 and the movie was showed in public, in a cut version with the rating R18+. In 2006, the movie was allowed uncut. Allowed uncut, rating R18+
• 1986 Lucker the Necrophagous. Graphic necrophilia content. No details. Still banned
• 1986 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Explicit violence content. There is a confirmation from 1992 of Customs forwarding an uncut print of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 to the ACB, who later released it. The Board did not give it a rating, so "at the time it was unclear what this meant for the film's banned status". In 2006, the movie was unbanned. Allowed uncut, rating R18+
• 1990 Bad Taste. The movie got banned after a three-week run in cinemas. In 2005, it was unbanned. Allowed uncut, rating R18+
• 1992 Nekromantik & Nekromantik 2. Necrophilic content. These two movies, dealing with the subject of necrophilia, were discovered by the ACB when they were seized by Customs in 1992 and they were both banned. Still banned
• 1992 Buio Omega (also known as Beyond the Darkness). High level violence and necrophiliac content. The movie was seized by Customs in 1992, and forwarded to the ACB. It was subsequently banned. Still banned.
• 1992 The Beast in Heat (also known as SS Hell Camp). Excessive sexual violence. The movie was seized by Customs in 1992, and forwarded to the ACB. It was subsequently banned. Still banned
• 1992 Urotsukidoji - Legend of the Overfiend. Graphic depictions of sex and violence. Parts one and two of chapter four in this anime became the first animated features to be banned in Australia. In 2001, the ACB allowed a heavily-censored DVD release of the complete Urotsukidoji - Legend of the Overfiend and its sequels. Allowed in a censored (by its British distributor) version, rated R18+
• 1995 Twelve films screened at Tasmania's Queer Film Festival, including Spikes and Heels, Coming Out Under Fire, What a Lesbian Looks Like, Mad About the Boy, 21st Century Nuns and Sex Fish. Violation against the state of Tasmania's Criminal Code Act (1924). Tasmania was (at the time) the only Australian state in which homosexuality (specifically "gay male sexual activity") was illegal. The festival has now moved to Melbourne. Banned in Tasmania, still unrated by the Australian Classification Board
• 1997 I Spit on Your Grave. Sexual violence. I Spit on Your Grave started in 1984 with an R18+ rating and passed a banning request in 1987, but was banned in 1997 due to "rising censorship of the late 90s". In 2004, the ACB decided to lift the ban. Allowed uncut, rated R18+
• 1999 Romance. Explicit depictions of sexual activity and sexual violence. The ACB overturned the ban in 2000. Allowed uncut, rated R18+
• 2002 Baise-moi. Explicit depiction of sexual violence and actual sex. The movie was allowed at first, with an R18+ rating; in 2002, it was banned by the ACB. Still banned
• 2003 Ken Park. Sexual matters "in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults". Copies of the film were distributed via the Internet, and illegal public screenings were held in Sydney. "None were charged with offenses in relation to this widely publicized illegal activity, presumably because that would have caused even greater public criticism of censorship laws." Still banned; however, the film has not been widely distributed worldwide