No Body is Perfect
Dir Raphaël Sibilla / 2006 / Switzerland
Accent Film Entertainment had this 80min documentary about sexual fetishes banned on November 2nd 2007. Accent are no strangers to controversy, having ran into problems with IRREVERSIBLE and 9 SONGS.
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Australian Government
Classification Board
CLASSIFICATION CERTIFICATE FOR A FILM
REFUSED CLASSIFICATION
Classification
I refer to an application dated 5 October 2007 for the classification of the undermentioned film. I certify that the decision of the Classification Board for this film is detailed below:
Title: NO BODY IS PERFECT
Version: ORIGINAL
Format: DVD
Running time: 80 MINUTE(S)
Producer: EMANUEL PREVOST
Director: RAPHAEL SIBILLA
Production company: WILD BUNCH
Country of origin: FRANCE
Classification: RC
(a) You may appeal against this decision. If you require more information concerning the appeal process please contact the Secretary of the Classification Review Board on (02) 9289 7100.
Certified
Board Report T07/S203
SYNOPSIS:
The film depicts a range of strong sexual fetishes, including body modification,
bondage, the use of candle wax, "golden showers", spanking and
scarification. It also includes scenes of explicit and obscured sexual activity.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION:
When making decisions the Classification Board (the Board) follows the
procedures set out in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer
Games) Act 1995, (the Act). The Board also applies the National Classification
Code and the Classification Guidelines, while taking into account the matters
set out in section II of the Act,
In the Board's majority view this film warrants an 'RC' classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the films table of the National Classification Code:
"1. Films that:
(a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or
addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such
a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally
accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified;"
will be refused classification.
The Guidelines state that films containing "sexual activity accompanied by fetishes or practices which are offensive or abhorrent" will be refused classification
The Guidelines also state that at the X 18+ category "fetishes such as body piercing, application of substances such as candle wax, 'golden showers', bondage, spanking... are not permitted".
In the Board's majority view this film contains actual sexual activity at approximately 5 minutes, 17 minutes and 35 minutes.
It also contains a number of
depictions of strong fetishes.
These include the following:
Bondage at approximately 20 minutes and 24 minutes;
Candle waxing at approximately 21 minutes;
Body "modification" in the form of scarring the body and bisection of
a penis at approximately 42 minutes;
"Blooding" at approximately 47 minutes: a group of three women is
shown on stage and covered in blood. One female kneels on the floor. A female
stands above her and cuts her wrist with a knife and the blood flows into the
face, mouth and onto the head of the female kneeling below.
Golden showers at approximately 55 minutes;
Body piercing - in the form of inserting hooks into the back and suspending the
body in the air . at approximately 50 minutes, 53 minutes, 68 minutes and 73
minutes.
The fetish of "apotemnophilia" (sexual arousal from having a healthy
body part amputated) is discussed at approximately 71 minutes. A male shows his
toeless foot and fingerless hands and discusses how he "gets a tool and
snip and his finger drops off". He states that he would be willing to have
this filmed. .
And at approximately 73 minutes a young female and male stand apart back to back
and have the hooks which are inserted into their backs chained together. They
then have a tug of war and the flesh is stretched to the point of tearing and
blood oozes out.
The Board notes that the above scenes are not necessarily inclusive of the content warranting an 'RC' decision. All depictions and references to violence, the after effects of violence or the threat of violence prevent the film from being accommodated within the X 18+ classification.
Minority view
In a minority view of the Board this film warrants an R 18+ classification with
consumer advice for high-level sexual activity, high-level sexual themes,
disturbing images.
This view holds that the film is a bona fide documentary that catalogues a range
of unusual sexual practices and fetishes that while offensive are not offensive
to the extent that they should be banned This view notes that "some
material classified R 18+ may be offensive to sections of the adult
community".
Also, the sexual activity in the film is sufficiently obscured, lacking in
detail or brief such that the general rule at R18+ of "simulation, yes -
the real thing, no" can be set aside.
DECISION
This film is Refused Classification.
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