Ahoy, squirts! Quint here presenting Latauro's latest AICN Downunder column. You'll find more tales of censorship in the land downunder below as well as some less despressing stuff. Is it wrong that Latauro's joke at the end about ALF would actually make me happy if it were real news?
I am flying! And from way up here you all look like little ants!
AICN-DOWNUNDER
The fact (is) that the film has opened already in so many other countries with no incident, no problem with censorship or anything. I have always thought of Australia as a very sort of progressive, sophisticated, cosmopolitan place. So to run into this roadblock is surprising,?
- MYSTERIOUS SKIN director Gregg Araki, speaking in Sydney during the Sydney Film Festival
As was reported in a recent AICN-D column, MYSTERIOUS SKIN upheld its R18+ rating, allowing its release this Thursday past. It survived a demand by the South Australian Attorney-General that the film be reviewed, as he claimed the film was a ?how to manual? instructing would-be paedophiles on the best ways to pick up young boys. The South Australian A-G was once again acting on behalf of the Australian Family Association; the same group that appears to be behind every single classification challenge these days.
The group?s last challenge was Michael Winterbottom?s 9 SONGS. After a long fight, which saw the film temporarily banned, it was eventually cleared and released this year.
Two weeks ago, the film came out on DVD. I presumed that would be the last we?d hear of it.
Last night, I got an email from George Papadopoulos, General Manager of Accent Films (the Australian distributor of 9 SONGS). He?d just received information that 9 SONGS had been banned by the South Australian Review Council.
My first response was ?South Australian Review Council? What??. How can we have a national review board *and* State and Territory review boards? How do they co-exist?
From the South Australian Classification Board?s own website comes this explanation:
Classification decisions made by the [Commonwealth Classification] Board are adopted by South Australia but may be reviewed under the State Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995. The South Australian Classification Council or the Minister may classify a publication, film or computer game despite the fact that it is classified under the Commonwealth Act. Such a classification has effect to the exclusion of any classification under the Commonwealth Act.?
Okay. So clearly they apparently *can* co-exist. But the interesting part comes here:
The classification criteria in the State Act are identical to the criteria applied by the Commonwealth Board to ensure that decisions are made on the same basis at both State and Commonwealth levels. Despite this there may still be a difference between the two bodies because the Council is comprised of South Australian residents and endeavors to consider the standards accepted by the South Australian community in particular.?
Interestingly, there is no difference between the merits the Federal Board and the State Council judge the film on. The difference? The bit about reflecting South Australian community standards.
I?m not going to vilify the SA board for this decision. Their reasons are justifiable ? they are, after all, adhering to the classification guidelines. What?s important to note is that they are guidelines; not rules or laws or strict regulations. Common sense and personal interpretation must be applied by board members to each individual film. In this case, they felt that by South Australian standards, 9 SONGS is not appropriate.
Again, I?d like to point out how little society has collapsed since the release of Winterbottom?s film. Had the AFA not beaten their chests over the film, it would have been released to an extremely limited arthouse audience and disappeared after three weeks and a myriad of negative and mediocre reviews (I, for the record, loved the film, but I?m in the massive minority). Instead, they?ve generated tons of publicity for the film and ensured the film is seen by a comparatively large audience.
Gregg Araki?s above quote is really embarrassing. It?s demonstrative of how Australia appears to be moving backwards because of a small group of self-righteous religious brow beaters.
South Australian residents are still, at time of writing, able to pick up 9 SONGS from retailers. If, however, the film disappears off shelves, you?ll still be able to order it from national online retailers such as EzyDVD.
NEWS
Sophie Monk, formerly of the pre-?Australian Idol? reality show ?Popstars?, has joined Adam Sandler?s new high concept flick CLICK. Taking the role presumably offered to Jennifer Hawkins, Monk will play secretary to The Hoff who seduces Sandler.
For those wondering about Greg McLean?s WOLF CREEK, it?s been picked up by Roadshow, and will be released in Australia on October 27. The film will come out a month earlier in the UK, on September 16. On November 18, CREEK will make its way onto over two thousand screens on its US release.
AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
My thus-far favourite Australian film of the year, THREE DOLLARS, has been selected for official competition at the Canadian festival. The film will screen (for the first time outside of Australia) on August 29, with director Robert Connolly and actor David Wenham there to introduce it.
SCREEN PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
The big festival from this year?s SPAA conference named the Queensland film EUSTICE SOLVES A PROBLEM as Best Short Film.
BOX OFFICE
Has anyone else noticed that, this year in particular, there really only seems to be one major release per week? It?s almost impossible to *not* predict what will hit the number one spot on any given week, particularly in Australia. The success of WEDDING CRASHERS is no big surprise, and without much big screen competition, will likely be there next week as well.
1. WEDDING CRASHERS
2. MONSTER-IN-LAW
3. THE ISLAND
4. KICKING AND SCREAMING
5. KUNG FU HUSTLE
RELEASED THIS WEEK
Sarah Watt contradicts compatriot Nicolas Roeg, the awesome how-to manual for paedophiles finally comes out, Kate Hudson considers changing her name to ?That Chick Was Really Only In ALMOST FAMOUS?, and Jet Li goes all Dog Fu on yo asses!
LOOK BOTH WAYS
MYSTERIOUS SKIN
SKELETON KEY
UNLEASHED
NEXT WEEK
- Vern Troyer to play ALF in the adaptation by living legend Raja Gosnell
- Rolf De Heer signs the Wiggles to his tragic tale of violent revenge, KNIFE UP JEFF
- Wes Craven and Rachel McAdams to re-team on sequel PINK EYE, with Jason Patric as a seafaring ophthalmologist
Rest in Peace Joe Ranft,
