US drama which focuses on the events of one summer’s afternoon when a group of teenagers lure a fellow pupil – the school bully – to a remote spot with a view to meting out some rough justice of their own. Their plan stalls but tragedy still strikes, leaving all involved in a state of shock, panic and bewilderment.
Classification Issues
- Language
- Strong language (‘f**k’) features alongside other terms including ‘pussy’, ‘faggot’ and ‘dick’. There is also a single use of very strong language (‘c**t’).
- Strong language (‘f**k’) features alongside other terms including ‘pussy’, ‘faggot’ and ‘dick’. There is also a single use of very strong language (‘c**t’).
- Sex references
- Sex references are occasionally crude.
- Sex references are occasionally crude.
- Violence
- A brief scene of physical bullying is followed by a sequence in which a character accidentally drowns after a struggle.
- Drugs
- There are occasional drug references and scenes of implied cannabis misuse.
Classification history
Originally submitted to the BBFC in November 2004, it was duly noted by examiners assigned to view and classify the film that its distributors had requested a 15 certificate.
Examiners likened the film to works such as Stand By Me, River’s Edge and Bully. Predominant classification issues for the film included language, sex references, violence and possible drug misuse.
With some twenty or so uses of strong language (‘f**k’), a minimum 15 certificate was inevitable, reinforced by some crude sex referencing.
Elsewhere, there are some infrequent bouts of violence such as that which opens the film and introduces us to the volatile and nasty character of the ill-fated bully, George. His accidental death that follows later in the film is unsettling but falls well short of the level of bloody detail that might have examiners reaching for an 18 classification. Examiners also noted some passing references to soft drug use and possible sight of joint-smoking – neither a problem at the 15 level.
There was, however, one potential barrier to the 15 classification. In the scene where an exasperated George rails at his fellow occupants aboard the boat in the river, he fires an aggressive insult at the sensible and kind Millie, calling her a 'stupid f**king JAP c**t' ('JAP' here being short for 'Jewish American Princess').
The BBFC’s Classification Guidelines at the time stated that very strong language 'will be acceptable only where justified by context'. The original team of two examiners felt that the film had a lot to offer mid-teenagers and that an 18 would exclude its most obvious target audience. They argued that the inclusion of such language helped to re-establish for the audience the true character of George. His death that almost immediately follows this pinnacle of vitriol and hate puts both audience and surviving characters in a most challenging position. It could be argued, therefore, that this single use of very strong language was well-placed and far from gratuitous – in other words, contextually justified.
Given its borderline nature, a second team of three examiners was recommended to view Mean Creek. All three examiners agreed with the sentiments and arguments of the first team, and the 15 was confirmed.
