HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 1 [2D]

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART I is the first of a two-part adaptation of JK Rowling's seventh Harry Potter book. It is a fantasy drama about teenage wizard Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron as they work to stop the evil Lord Voldemort, who has taken over the Ministry of Magic and started to persecute 'mudbloods', or half-humans, who practise magic. It was classified '12A' for moderate fantasy violence and threat.

The BBFC's Guidelines at 'PG' state that 'Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed if justified by its context (for example [...] fantasy)' and that 'frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor'. Although the characters in the film use magic, often in clearly fantastical settings, and some of the characters are magic creatures such as elves, much of this film takes place in familiar and realistic settings. There are also some stronger moments of violence which include some detail, particularly of injuries sustained by characters, with sight of blood and realistic-looking wounds. These include the word 'mudblood' shown in bloody scratches on Hermione's forearm after she has been tortured off-screen. This level of detail is better contained by the Guidelines at '12A'/'12' where 'moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood'. Although there is too much detail, overall, for a 'PG' there is no real dwelling on that detail, nor any emphasis on injuries or blood beyond establishment of the wounds.

In terms of moderate threat, the film possesses a fairly dark and intense tone, in common with many of the more recent instalments of HARRY POTTER. Although few sequences are particularly prolonged, some of them possess a level of intensity that takes them beyond the 'PG' category, including a sequence very near the start of the film where Miss Burbage is tormented by Voldemort and the sequence where it is implied Hermione is being tortured off-screen by Bellatrix. These sequences fit the Guidelines at '12A'/'12' where 'Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, providing disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained'. As with other recent instalments, the general darkness of tone and occasional feelings of hopelessness make this better suited to '12A' than 'PG', as does the fact that various sympathetic and well-loved characters die or are injured. Being the first part of a two-part adventure, there is a notable lack of a reassuring resolution and certainly no happy ending.

Other issues include an unusual sequence in which we see a vision, conjured by Voldemort in order to taunt Ron, of an apparently naked Harry and Hermione embracing and kissing. Any detail of nudity is carefully concealed by angles and by the swirling mists of the vision but nudity is strongly implied. This sequence is containable at '12A' where the Guidelines state that 'nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet'.

The film also features occasional mild and discreet sex references and, in an animation sequence, an undetailed silhouette depiction of a person hanging himself. It does not feature any detail of the techniques of hanging, nor any suggestion that hanging is anything other than deadly.

There are also several uses of mild bad language, specifically 'hell', 'damn', 'git', 'piss', 'bloody', 'bleeding' and 'arse'.

Parents can find additional information about the content of this film if they visit www.pbbfc.co.uk.