• Director(s)

    Tim Ormond

  • Production Year

    1984

  • Genre(s)

    Documentary, Drama

  • Approx. running minutes

    59m

Film

The Sacred Symbol

moderate violence, bloody images, threat, outdated discriminatory attitudes

THE SACRED SYMBOL is a 1984 US documentary drama in which a man describes his adventures and observations in his worldwide search for spiritual truth.…

THE SACRED SYMBOL is a 1984 US documentary drama in which a man describes his adventures and observations in his worldwide search for spiritual truth.

violence
Dramatised scenes show men being stoned in ancient times, resulting in bloody injury, and the crucifixion of Christ, which includes sight of a nail being driven into a hand in bloody fashion. There is documentary footage of self-inflicted violence by members of a Filipino Christian sect who go through an annual ritual in which they flagellate themselves, with sight of bloody injuries accruing over their bodies.
threat and horror
Documentary footage shows dangerous activities being performed, such as the kissing of poisonous snakes, lying on a bed of nails and handling hot metal, by people claiming spiritual powers which make them impervious to pain or serious injury.
discrimination
People from foreign lands are described as "primitive" and "Orientals", Africa is referred to as "the dark continent", whilst a white audience listening to a talk laugh in a patronising manner as they view footage of African tribal dances. A white Christian woman decries spiritual practices in South East Asian countries as being "linked to the Devil".
additional issues
There is brief documentary footage of a lion hunting and bringing down a deer, but without gory detail.

  • Director(s)

    Tim Ormond

  • Production Year

    1984

  • Genre(s)

    Documentary, Drama

  • Approx. running minutes

    59m

moderate violence, bloody images, threat, outdated discriminatory attitudes
Classified Date:
23/05/2023
Version:
2D
Use:
Physical media + VOD/Streaming
Distributor:
Powerhouse Films UK
violence
Dramatised scenes show men being stoned in ancient times, resulting in bloody injury, and the crucifixion of Christ, which includes sight of a nail being driven into a hand in bloody fashion. There is documentary footage of self-inflicted violence by members of a Filipino Christian sect who go through an annual ritual in which they flagellate themselves, with sight of bloody injuries accruing over their bodies.
threat and horror
Documentary footage shows dangerous activities being performed, such as the kissing of poisonous snakes, lying on a bed of nails and handling hot metal, by people claiming spiritual powers which make them impervious to pain or serious injury.
discrimination
People from foreign lands are described as "primitive" and "Orientals", Africa is referred to as "the dark continent", whilst a white audience listening to a talk laugh in a patronising manner as they view footage of African tribal dances. A white Christian woman decries spiritual practices in South East Asian countries as being "linked to the Devil".
additional issues
There is brief documentary footage of a lion hunting and bringing down a deer, but without gory detail.

  • Classified date

    23/05/2023

  • Language

    English