The BBFC has classified the French film Irreversible ‘18’ uncut for cinema release. The film centres around a rape and the events which result from that.
The Board carefullyconsidered the film’s depiction of violence in line with current classification guidelines. Depictions which eroticise or appear to endorse sexual violence are of particular concern both to the BBFC and to the public. With this in mind, the Board took advice from a clinical forensic psychiatrist about the rape scene in particular. She agreed with the Board that the scene is a harrowing and vivid portrayal of the brutality of rape. However, it contains no explicit sexual images and is not designed to titillate. The Board was satisfied, therefore, that no issue of harm arose in the context of a cinema release for adult viewing only. The Board has therefore decided not to intervene with the film for cinema release. If, however, Irreversible is submitted for video release the Board will need to consider any potential for harm that might arise from the rape scene being taken out of context and viewed repeatedly.
The Board also considered other scenes including one in a sex club in which a man is battered to death with a fire extinguisher. The Board recognised that elements in the film may be shocking and (for many viewers) unpleasant. These, however, are not by themselves reasons for censoring them for adults. Our concern, and the public’s, is principally with content which is likely to promote harmful activity. By that test, the Board was satisfied that Irreversible may be given a cinema release with an ‘18’ rating. The BBFC has told the distributors that a warning about the strobing effects in the film should be displayed at cinema box offices.
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