No video certificate for 'torture' film
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A film-maker is in dispute with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) over its refusal to grant his film a video certificate because of its "unrelenting" violence, writes Rhys Williams.
Boy Meets Girl was granted an "18" certificate to appear in cinemas this summer but James Ferman, of the BBFC, has refused to sanction a video release because of worries that its graphic violence could be seen by under-age viewers.
In the film, a man is picked up in a bar by a woman, doped, tied to a dentist's chair and tortured. His reactions are filmed by another woman wearing a mask. The second woman kills the first, before beginning to taunt the man and perform surgery on him.
Ray Brady, the film's director, argued that it was not an attempt to sensationalise violence, but a serious exploration of violent behaviour. "[The film] cuts off consequence from action by breaking down violence to its barest components and then blowing it all up with hot stylised air." But, in a letter to Mr Brady refusing a video certificate, Mr Ferman said: "This video focuses unrelentingly on the process of torture."
Boy Meets Girl joins a list of 38 films, including Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, to be refused a video release by the BBFC.
Joining the Banned, Weekend
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments