Film censorship
Film censorship is the censorship of motion pictures, either through the excising of certain frames or scenes, or outright banning of films in their entirety. Film censorship typically occurs as a result of political or moral objections to a film's content; controversial content subject to censorship include the depiction of graphic violence, sexual situations, or racial themes. Censorship standards vary widely by country, and can vary within an individual country over time.
Rating systems
A motion picture rating system is designated to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of obscene content. A particular issued rating can be called a certification, classification, certificate.By country
Australia
Australia's Australian Classification Board, formerly known as the Office of Film and Literature Classification, uses the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995 as a guide for the majority of the censorship within the country; however, each state and territory is free to make additional legislation. Australia is regarded by many to be the most restrictive on film ratings of all Western democratic countries, considering its history and prolific "refusal of classification" to certain films, although restrictions have eased over the years.In practice, films still get a short cinematic run before they are reviewed and prevented from being shown at cinemas or released on DVD. This is not a comprehensive list; many films that have been previously banned are not mentioned here. Also not included are the numerous pornographic films deemed too excessive to release under an X18+ category, which are refused classification by the ACB.
Brazil
;During dictatorshipDuring the dictatorship in Brazil, that last from 1964 to 1988, several films were banned under the Federal Law from Brazil 5536 from 1968.
During several years a project was being developed to find and publish every document on censorship in films during the dictatorship.
The project "Memory of Censorship in Brazilian Cinema" released in 2005 six thousand documents about 175 banned films during the dictatorship. And, finally, in 2007 they released documents for the last 269 films banned at that time.
;After democratization
- 1993: Beyond Citizen Kane:
"On February 14, 2011, the newspaper Jornal do Brasil reported that Rede Record would be broadcasting the documentary in 2011, on a date yet to be specified."
- 1976: Di Cavalcanti:
- 2011: A Serbian Film:
Canada
At present, only films containing prohibited material or under court order are banned in Canadian provinces.Chile
In 1974, during General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship, a film censorship decree allowed the banning of films. During the years when film censorship existed in Chile, 1,092 films were banned in the country. The Chilean film censorship system has not changed significantly until November 1996 when after United International Pictures requested that The Last Temptation of Christ be rated, the film was allowed for audiences over 18. However, an ultra-conservative religious group filed an injunction to reverse the decision and in June 1997 the Supreme Court banned the film. In September 1997 a civil liberties group took the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In February 2001 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that Chile was in violation of the American Convention on Human Rights and that it should lift the ban on the film and modify its legislation to comply with the convention. In August 2001 a constitutional reform eliminated film censorship and the film appeared on video stores. In January 2003 a new film rating law was published and the film was given an "over 18" rating. The film premiered on 13 March 2003 at a theater in Santiago.China
In Mainland China, film censorship, often on political grounds, is rampant. Films in Mainland China are used to be reviewed by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television which dictated whether, when, and how a movie gets released. In 2018, the SAPPRFT was replaced by the National Film Administration under the Publicity Department. The NFA is separate from the NRTA under the State Council.Germany
''Main article: Censorship in the Federal Republic of Germany''Pre war and during the First World War
In 1906, the first legislation arose discussing the censorship of film and media. This was met with pushback, due to preexisting legislation regarding censorship of the media. The higher courts deemed the film censorship was indeed legal, however provided no guidance towards individual parts of Germany, creating discrepancies province to province.Post WW1
In Germany, film censorship was abolished in 1918, however the Motion Picture Law in 1920 created film review boards which were used to screen films that may perpetrate a negative image of Germany to the rest of the world.India
In India, films are censored by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory censorship and classification body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Films should be certified by the board to publicly exhibit it in India, including films shown in television. CBFC is considered to be one of the most powerful censor boards in the world due to its strict ways of functioning.Iran
All films depicting anything deemed contrary to Islamic morals are banned outright in Iran.Ireland
Due to the small size of Ireland, films banned by the British Board of Film Classification were rarely even submitted for release in Ireland, due to the high costs of promotion and distribution for such a small audience. Similarly, BBFC cuts are often left in DVD releases, due to the difficulties in separating the two film supplies.This changed in 2000; many of these films have since been unbanned and rated anywhere from PG to 18. During the review process it was decided that no more films would be banned for either theatre or video release, but some bans are still in place.
Banned films can still be viewed at private members' clubs with 18+ age limits.
Israel
All German films were banned from 1956 until 1967.Japan
See Cinema of Japan and Censorship in JapanKuwait
In Kuwait, the Ministry of Information is responsible for censoring movies. The ministry can cut scenes they consider inappropriate. Any film connected to politics, sexuality, religion or extreme violence can be censored.Pakistan
After the promulgation of 18th Constitutional amendment by the constituent Assembly of Pakistan, Sindh and Punjab Province has established their own film censor boards namely Punjab Board of Film Censors and Sindh Board of Film Censors, Mr khalid bin Shaheen is the current Chairman SBFC and Mr. Adil Ahmed is the Secretary Sindh board of film censors.South Africa
During the Apartheid regime, films depicting interracial couples were banned and/or censored for content - the James Bond films Live and Let Die and A View To A Kill had love scenes which were censored by the South African government.In 1996 The Film and Publication Board, or FPB, was established under the Film and Publications Act. This board was created as a content-classification and regulation authority, operating under the Minister of Communications. The FPB's purpose was ostensibly to tackle issues of child pornography and child abuse, as well as to provide ratings to publicly consumed media such as movies, music and television programs. Under these directives, its mandate could be considered one of state censorship.
South Korea
According to the Internet Movie Database, there are no currently-banned films in South Korea.In recent years, sexual scenes have been a major issue that pits filmmakers against the Media Rating Board. Pubic hair and male or female genitalia are disallowed on the screen, unless they are digitally blurred. In rare cases extreme violence, obscene language, or certain portrayals of drug use may also be an issue. Korea has a five level rating systems; ALL, 12, 15, 18 and Restricted.
United Kingdom
The infamous video nasty list was created in 1982 to protect against obscenity. Films on this list were banned and distributors of said films were liable to be prosecuted. This list banned 74 films at one point in the mid-1980s; the list was eventually trimmed down, and only 39 films were successfully prosecuted. Most of the films have now been approved by the BBFC, cut or uncut.United States
The United States has no federal agency charged with either permitting or restricting the exhibition of motion pictures. Most instances of films being banned are via ordinances or proclamations by city or state governments. Some are instances of films being judicially found to be of an obscene nature and subject to specific laws against such material. Such findings are usually only legally binding in the jurisdiction of the court making such a ruling.The established film industry in the United States began a form of self-censorship in the late 1920s called the Motion Picture Production Code to forestall any possible formation of a federal censoring agency. In 1968, the Production Code was superseded by the MPAA film rating system. The rating system is broken down into five categories and each have a respective definition. They are G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. It was created by Jack Valenti in 1968. In addition to providing film ratings, the MPAA also lobbies Congress, helps in international promotion of the U.S. film industry, and piracy protection.