Vase De Noces
aka Wedding Trough
Dir Thierry Zeno / 1974 / Belgium
Pressure from the Western Australian government saw an 81min (f) print refused in 1975 for reasons of indecency. The Perth Film Festival successfully appealed the decision, and to great controversy, this did actually screen. The following year the Australian Film Institute was not so lucky, the film was banned, and an appeal to the Board of Review was unsuccessful.
The following excerpt looks at the controversy that surrounded the film in 1975.
"While Queensland was acquiring a
reputation as the most conservative state in the Commonwealth, the Western
Australian government was becoming nervous of the growing reputation of
the Perth Film Festival for being even more daring in its choice of films
than larger festivals in the eastern states. In 1975 the government
requested the commonwealth censors, in spite of the festival's recognized
censorship privileges, to view the festival entry Wedding Trough. The
board banned the film, but the appeal was upheld after festival chairman
David Roe and the film's director Thierry Zeno presented their case to the
Film Board of Review. The government was disturbed that it could do
nothing about this decision, and so the following year the festival was
informed that if it continued with plans to import Oshima's Empire of
the Senses the Western Australian government would insist on the
commonwealth censors viewing every festival film. This would have so
delayed and hampered the festival that it was considered not worth the
risk. The film was not shown in Perth, though it has since been shown
without incident at both Melbourne and Sydney film festivals. Meanwhile
the Western Australian government introduced a proviso, like that still
maintained in South Australia, that the minister retains final control
over censorship decisions. It remains to be seen whether this power
will be actively implemented, or kept in reserve as it is in South
Australia."
FILM CENSORSHIP IN AUSTRALIA by Ina Bertrand, University
of Queensland Press, 1978.
***
The following article from CINEMA PAPERS shows how the film contributed to the demise of the Perth International Film Festival.
Cinema Papers - July 1977
Perth Fest Nixed
The recent demise of the Perth Film Festival has proved a sad, though perhaps inevitable, development, and could foreshadow similar problems for the world's small, independent festivals.
Bursting onto the festival scene in 1972, it quickly established itself as a highly innovative event which vigorously promoted the independent film. Initially set up by David Roe (who later joined the Australian Film Institute as its director), it was run for the past three years by Sylvie Le Clezio, with Roe as chairman.
The ability of the organisers to piece together an exciting program was evidenced in their securing the world premiere of Louis Malles Black Moon in 1975; the screening of A Woman Under the Influencece, which John Cassavetes gave Perth after New York but denied Cannes; and the championing of Werner Herzog in Australia. Other Perth firsts included Fears Eats the Soul (Fassbinder), La Maman et la Putain (Eustache), Pastoral Hide and Seek (Terayama) , Grey Gardens (Mayles Brothers), Serail (de Grigorio), Souvenirs D'en France (Technine), and Death of a Director of a Flea Circus (Koerfer)
It was, moreover, the only festival in Australia to gain admission to the International Federation of Independent Film Festivals, along with the Directors' Fortnight’ at Cannes, the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Rotterdam Film International.
Not
at first endeared to the more established festivals, Perth made noises about
what it called the lack of purpose and their poor record in helping films find
distribution And while Perth's programs were too
specialist to clash with the other festivals, there existed an apparent lack of
co-operation. However, this eventually changed and the Sydney and Melbourne
festivals leapt quickly to Perth's defence
when it ran into censorship trouble in two consecutive years
In 1975, Perth successfully appealed against
a ban on the Belgian entry, Vase de Noces, which the Western Australian
government pressured the Commonwealth Censor into refusing registration, in a
move that pre-empted the agreement guaranteeing freedom of censorship for
festivals.
Not to be outdone, in 1976 the W.A.
authorities threatened Perth with the physically impossible burden of having to
submit every entry to the censor if it persisted in its intention of importing
Nagasi Oshima's Empire of the Senses. The festival withdrew the film,
only to see it shown without any fuss at this years Melbourne and Sydney
festivals
The Perth Festival was forced into demise by
its financial position, a state of affairs not helped by an unsympathetic Stale
government which has said that it doesn't consider Perth's programming
sufficiently middle-of-the-road. If it is, the government says, it will make
money and won't need to be subsidized anyway
Although there are rumours that the festival may move interstate, both
Le Clezio and Roe
Vendetta
Dir George Saunders / 1996 / USA
Peacock Films had this banned at 88mins in 1996. As far as I know no censored tape was released.
Around 2001 Flashback Home Entertainment put the film out on Australian DVD. This particular release runs 85min 11sec. I can only assume that it has been pre-cut as not only is the running time nearly 3mins shorter, but it contains nothing that would offend the censors.
Very Sensuous Wife, The
Dir Joseph F Robertson / 1970 / USA
Platinum Video had this 80min (v) tape Refused Classification in October 1985. The reason for the decision was 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'.
It needs to be confirmed if this tape was ever released.
Vicious Box Set
Dir Sakura Harukawa / 2002 / Japan
This Japanese Hentai Box set from NuTech Digital contains the episodes one and two of the series. Adult film stars Allysin Chaynes and Alexis Amore are the featured voices.
There is a confirmed customs confiscation of the DVD Box Set from 2002. Reasons given were:
"The goods are considered by the Office of Film and Literature Classification to fall within Sub Regulation 4A1(d) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations."
Victimized
aka Violated
Dir Richard Cannistraro / 1984 / USA
Under the title Violated Outland Promotions had an 85min print banned (for gratuitous sexual violence) in 1986. With the title changed to Victimized, a cut version (82min 09sec) was released by Vestron Video.
The following comparison is between the cut Australian PAL Vestron Video and the uncut American NTSC Vestron Video. The quoted time that the censorship occurs refers to the Australian tape, the length of the cut refers to the American tape.
LIZ GRANT'S RAPE
Before - Frank says to Liz:
"You better get your arse back on the bed honey.....Now!"
He then throws her onto the bed.
CENSORED AT 3min 57sec (51sec missing) -
After - Liz being comforted by Jack's wife.
LISA ROBB'S RAPE
Before - Lisa being pushed to the bed.
CENSORED AT 23min 10sec (25sec NTSC missing) - Lisa being stripped naked and tied to the bed. Note that a picture from this scene is shown on the back of the video cover.
After/Before - Shot of Jack taking off his coat and saying:
Relax little girl you'll enjoy it. Me and Marilyn have made a lot of girls
very happy"
CENSORED AT 23min 29sec (30sec missing) - He then climbs on top of her as Marilyn looks on.
LISA'S FIRST FLASHBACK
Before - Lisa says to her brother:
It's going to be better now, now you go and do your homework"
CENSORED AT 36min 51sec (6sec missing) - Flashback to Lisa having her clothes torn off.
After/Before - Topless shot of Lisa, then a shot of Jack. Marilyn looks on.
CENSORED AT 36min 55sec (4sec missing) - Side view of Jack climbing on top of Lisa.
After - Lisa picking up the phone.
LISA'S SECOND FLASHBACK
Before - Lisa standing alone in a room
CENSORED AT 49min 57sec (5sec missing) - Repeat shot of her being stripped naked.
After/Before - Shot of Jack, Marilyn and Frank.
CENSORED AT 49min 59sec (9sec missing) - Side view of Jack on top of Lisa.
After - Lisa in room. The Detective comes in and says:
"Hey kid, are you on this planet"
Vestron Video (Aus) 82min 09sec (PAL)
Vestron Video (USA) 87min 52sec (NTSC)
Approximate length of cuts in PAL is 125sec.
Videodrome
Dir David Cronenburg / 1983 / Canada
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
United International Pictures had this rated R in 1983 at 86mins (f). Two years later, CIC-TAFT is listed as having an 87mins (v) version rated. The actual running time of this CIC tape is 80min 39sec, and would appear to be the same as the old cut UK tape. So it looks like the OFLC never had a problem with this title, it's just that (as is happening today with DVD) we got dumped with a censored British print.In 2002 Universal Pictures released a Region 4 DVD. It runs 83min 48sec and although longer, it is still not uncut. This time we seem to have the American R rated version.
Violated
Dir Janet Greek / 1986 / USA
In 1986, Showcase Video cut (for gratuitous sexual violence) this rape/revenge movie from 86 to 84mins (v) for an R rating. The actual runtime is 79min 27sec and is missing the following.
4min 23sec- Eddie punches Joan in the stomach, before they drag her out of the kitchen and into another room. Two of them hold her down whilst Eddie rapes her.
22min 44sec- Jack pushes the girl to the ground. She says "Please don't do that to me mister" He then rapes her.
Violence Jack-Evil Town
Dir Ichiro Itano / 1988 / Japan
Polygram Video had this 55min (v) Manga video refused a rating in 1997. This is the first episode in a three part series; volume 2 and 3 passed through with no problems, and R ratings. Following the banning of part 1, the release of the rest of the series was scrapped.In New Zealand, Manga released all three parts on one tape. The cover of the tape mentions the films banning in Australia.
In the UK Manga films pre-cut 3min 55sec before submitting it to the BBFC who then cut a further 30sec to give a final time of 55min 27sec. As the OFLC refused a print that only ran 55min, it is possible that this to was pre-cut.
Cheap dupes of this, and the other episodes in the series have begun to appear. All have the Manga Video label, fake R18+ ratings, and consumer warnings of "High Level Violence". The EVIL TOWN episode looks like it is cut, as it only runs 55min 15sec.
Violent Shit
Dir Andreas Schnaas / 1989 / Germany
A VHS of this low-budget gore feature was seized by customs in 1992 and forwarded to the OFLC who rated it RC.
Violent Shit 3: Infantry of Doom
Dir Andreas Schnaas / 1999 / Germany
There is a report of customs seizing this in 2002.
Virgin Among the Living Dead
Dir Jess Franco / 1971 / Spain
This was another of the Redemption releases to suffer problems. Here is what the OFLC had to say about the film on viewing it in 1995. Thanks to Redemption for this."In the board's opinion the film warrants refused for one scene of gratuitous sexual violence.
At 65minutes Christiana is attacked by her relatives, a woman and two men. They strip her and hold her down, standing on her arms and legs. One of the men pulls his trousers down with visuals of his naked buttocks as he lays on top of her naked body. He implicitly rapes her, thrusting for a prolonged period while she cries out "No, no ,no" shown in medium range with close up visuals of her hands clenching and unclenching. There is in the board's opinion no contextual justification for this scene. It is prolonged and detailed and as such warrants Refusal.
In the Boards opinion the film contains other less lengthy and detailed depictions of violence and gratuitous female nudity which could be accommodated at R level." OFLC Report sent to the applicant in 1995."
The film was subsequently cut from 77 to 76mins (75min 17sec) to remove the offending scene. This was then released on tape on Siren's Redemption label. SBS have screened an alternate cut that included the zombie footage shot at a later date by Jean Rollin.