Banned: World

3.50

Cambodia: Banned

See  article from  phnompenhpost.com :

Filmmaker Chhay Bora, who directed the yet-to-be released 3.50 , said that the censorship board has never explained to him their grounds for evaluating movies.

It's like walking in the jungle with no road map to follow, said Bora, whose film on sex trafficking was supposed to be released last October but never received final approval. Although his script was approved, Bora said that the censorship board has failed to reach a verdict on the final version. No specific cuts have been ordered by the ministry, he said, but feedback he received suggested that censorship board members were concerned about the movie's heavy social commentary.

The Ministry of Culture film department said they didn't ban the film, but they didn't grant the licence yet, said Bora, adding that although the film's dialogue did not seem to cause controversy, the censorship board expressed concern over not less than 10 shots. Some of the criticism, Bora said, was over shots that the board claimed represented Cambodia in a bad light, such as a taxi driver throwing a cigarette out the window and a scene within the impoverished White Building community on Sothearos Boulevard.

Bora also said that other scenes were too political for the censors' comfort, such as a shot of a character walking down a dusty road with Prime Minister Hun Sen's office visible in the background.

Bora also said that the board insisted that all plot conflicts be resolved before the credits roll. In particular one of his characters, after escaping a brothel, is last seen joining a group of other former sex workers instead of trying to return home. Her ultimate fate is never revealed, but the possibility of her returning to sex work is not ruled out.

The censors said: why don't you find a solution for her, to find an NGO or new job? And I said that's not my job. The filmmaker has no possibility to solve the social problem.

Summary Notes

When a young Cambodian village girl is sold off into prostitution, a brash American documentary filmmaker ventures deep into the underbelly of Phnom Penh to pursue her story and rescue the girl, crossing paths with various other lives affected by the unspeakable terrain of the country's virginity trade.

The Adventure of a Married Couple

• Zan va shohar Karegar

Iran: Banned in February 2016 with the filmmaker being jailed

Keywan Karimi was jailed for 1 year (reduced from 3 years on appeal) with 233 lashes.  The authorities felt that his movies depicting grim daily lives in Iran 'insulted sanctities".

Summary Notes

Couples who are living together both work to make their ends meet. The man works night shifts from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and the woman works during the day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. they have to work all week even on weekends and whenever one of them comes home the other should get ready to leave home.

Antichrist

• Antychryst

France: Banned in February 2016

Promouvoir, an extremist Catholic pressure group initiated a court case some time ago claiming that the films local 16 rating was incorrect and that the film should be restricted to adults only. The moralists won the case and the court agreed that the film is unsuitable for under 18 and revoked the film's 16 certificate.

Until the film can be re-rated, it is banned from cinema and TV

The BBFC explained some of the censorship issues when issuing an uncut 18 rating:

At '18', the BBFC's Guidelines state that the more explicit images of sexual activity are unlikely to be permitted unless they can be exceptionally justified by context and the work is not a 'sex work'. A 'sex work' is defined as a work whose 'primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation'. It is clear that ANTICHRIST is not a 'sex work' but a serious drama exploring issues such as grief, loss, guilt and fear.

The brief images of explicit real sex (sight of a penis penetrating a vagina during a consensual sex scene and sight of the man's penis being masturbated to climax) are exceptionally justified, in this context, by the manner in which they illustrate the film's themes and the nature of the couple's relationship. Their relationship is depicted throughout in a graphic and unflinching fashion, both psychologically and physically.

The BBFC has permitted comparable explicit images in a number of previous features at the '18' level (eg L'EMPIRE DES SENS, 9 SONGS, SHORTBUS and Lars von Trier's earlier film, THE IDIOTS) where it has been clear that the purpose of the work - and the individual images in question - is not simply to arouse viewers but to illustrate characters, relationships and themes.

Note that the hardcore shots are inserted into the sex scenes and are attributed to body doubles Horst Stramka and Mandy Starship.

• 2014 Artificial Eye [The Lars von Trier Collection] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Artificial Eye [The Lars von Trier Collection] R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• 2010 Artificial Eye RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2010 Artificial Eye R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• 2009 cinema release

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• 2010 Criterion RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• 2010 Criterion R1 DVD at US Amazon
• US VOD to rent/buy [US only] at US Amazon

The film featured an errant monk, a commonplace issue in Thailand, and so the censors decided that the depiction of errant monks somehow threaten buddhism. The film was initially banned because it might create unnecessary conflicts in society if the committee had let it pass.

The film censors later passed the film 18+ after scenes showing errant behaviour by the monk were cut.

The Attack

Lebanon: Banned in 2013

Banned because its Lebanese director shot part of the movie in Israel and used Israeli actors.

Summary Review: Aftermath of a Suicide Attack

An Arab surgeon living in Tel Aviv discovers a dark secret about his wife in the aftermath of a suicide bombing. Based on a novel by Yasmina Khadra.

The Attack won the Special Jury Award at the 2012 San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain and the Golden Star at Morocco's Marrakesh Film Festival.

• 2013 Cohen Media Group R1 DVD at US Amazon
• 2013 Cohen Media Group R1 DVD at US Amazon

The Attacks of 26/11

UAE: Banned

Baby

Pakistan: Banned by film censors in January 2015

Baby is an Indian action movie about a spy mission to catch a dreaded terrorist. It has now been banned by Pakistan's film censors. The Dawn newspaper reported:

Censor boards in Islamabad and Karachi have decided to ban the film because it portrays a negative image of Muslims and the negative characters in the film also have Muslim names.

Summary Notes

An elite counter-intelligence unit learns of a plot, masterminded by a maniacal madman. With the clock ticking, it's up to them to track the terrorists' international tentacles and prevent them from striking at the heart of India.

Baise-moi

• Fuck Me
• Rape Me

Australia: Banned by the Film Censorship Board for:

• 2013 Potential Films video
• 2002 Requested ban by Australian Government upheld

The film was previously shown at cinemas with an R18+ (18) rating

See  article from  refused-classification.com . Note that the version banned by the censors in 2013 was a pre-cut version with the sight of penetration deleted from the rape scene. The Film Censorship Board explained its majority decision to ban the video:

In summary, as this film contains depictions of explicit sexual activity and sexual violence, sexualized violence and violence which are very high in impact and, as such, exceeds what can be accommodated within the R 18+ classification, and, as the film also contains violence, sexual violence and sexualized violence and, as such, cannot be accommodated within the X18+ classification, this material warrants Refused Classification.

Summary Review: Crude but exhilarating

Two young women, marginalised by society, go on a destructive tour of sex and violence. Breaking norms and killing men - and shattering the complacency of polite cinema audiences.

People comparing Baise-Moi to Thelma and Louise and finding it wanting by comparison are missing the point. Baise-Moi has much more in common with films like Natural Born Killers and Rafal Sielinski's Fun , and viewers who won't enjoy the nasty music, nasty violence and nasty sex should stick to safe, predictable Hollywood production-line films.  For those with stronger stomachs, this will be a cult film to watch repeatedly.

• UK 2013 Arrow R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2005 Remstar R1 DVD via UK Amazon and via US Amazon

Bangistan

Pakistan: Banned

The film has been banned in Pakistan with the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Censors, Mobashir Hasan, saying:

The film has not been certified and given a complete ban, primarily because it is offensive to Muslims and Hindus living in Pakistan.

The problem with the film is that it's a religious satire, which leaves very little room for any lenience.

The central board has also requested all the provincial boards to put a complete ban on the film, since there is no way in which the film can be edited to suit the audiences.

Singapore: Banned

Banned by the film censors but there is still the possibility of an appeal to the reviewing committee.

UAE: Banned

A day before its grand opening in Dubai, Karan Anshuman's directorial debut, Bangistan, has been banned in United Arab Emirates.

The reason for the ban may be to do with religious sensitivities. In Inida protestors cited an 'objectionable' scene in which a character is dressed up as the Hindu God, Hanuman, and later seen indulging in terrorist activities.

Summary Notes

Two blundering terrorists with lofty ideologies, but ordinary talent, on a mission to change the world.

• 2015 cinema release

Banglasia

Malaysia : Banned in 2015

See  article from theguardian.com

Banned from cinemas in 2015 after 31 scenes were deemed inappropriate by local censors. Government film censors explained the ban:

This film has a title, theme, storyline, scenes and double-meaning dialogue with implicit messages that were feared could raise controversy and public doubt, the response reads, adding that it mocked national security issues, specifically the Lahad Datu intrusion ... ridiculed the capacity and role of security troops in maintaining peace as well as national security ... includes allegations and negative perceptions towards government agencies related to citizenship ... and accentuates negative sociocultural lifestyles such as lesbian gay bisexual transgender (LGBT).

Beirut Hotel

• Beyrouth hôtel
• Beyrouth Hotel

See trailer from youtube.com

Lebanon: Banned

In Beirut Hotel , Zoha, a Lebanese nightclub singer, and Mathieu, a Frenchman on a business trip who may or may not be a spy, repeatedly get together in Mathieu's hotel room in Beirut and have raunchy sex. The film, the third feature by the Lebanese director Danielle Arbid, was banned in her home country.

The reason: not so much the erotic scenes as one the film's subplots, which concerns the 2005 assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, which is an explosive topic in the country. The censors claimed that the film's depiction of the political situation would endanger Lebanon's security.

Black Swan

See trailer from youtube.com

Barbados: Temporarily banned.

The Film Censorship Board instituted the ban deeming the film inappropriate for viewing because of offensive sexual behaviour. The movie features a scene depicting a lesbian encounter.

Public protest and a petition against the ban got it overturned and the film was eventually released with an R Rating.

UAE: Banned

Mohammad Naser, the UAE cinema censor said: When we find that the amount of editing required takes a big part of the movie, we conclude that there is no point in releasing it.

• UK 2011 20th Century Fox RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• UK 2011 20th Century Fox R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated for:

• US 2011 Fox Searchlight RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• US 2011 Fox Searchlight R1 DVD at US Amazon

Blue is the Warmest Colour

• Blue Is the Warmest Color

Banned in France: December 2015

The French 12 rating for Blue is the Warmest Colour was withdrawn in December 2016 over its extended lesbian scenes. This was the result of court case issued by the religious campaign group Promouvoir (Promote). Abdellatif Kechiche's film is currently banned from cinema and TV and as the film has not yet received a revised certificate.

Summary Notes

Adele's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself, finds herself.

• 2014 Artificial Eye RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Artificial Eye R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Blue Jasmine

India: Withdrawn

See  article from  blogs.wsj.com

Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine will not be shown in India.

Allen is not one to compromise his artistic vision. He decided not to show the film in India rather than add legally required anti-smoking messages to two scenes.

PVR Pictures Ltd., the Indian distributor said the director considered the required additions, written warnings that appear on screen during scenes with smoking, and found them to be unacceptable.

Summary Notes

A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn't bringing money, peace, or love...

• 2014 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• 2014 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment R1 DVD at US Amazon

New Zealand: Banned by the film censor in 2007

Summary Notes

People suffer largely unnoticed while the rest of the world goes about its business. This is a documentary exploration of the mythic beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, the most popular suicide destination in the world, and those drawn by its call. Steel and his crew filmed the bridge during daylight hours from two separate locations for all of 2004, recording most of the two dozen deaths in that year (and preventing several others). They also taped interviews with friends, families and witnesses, who recount in sorrowful detail stories of struggles with depression, substance abuse and mental illness. Raises questions about suicide, mental illness and civic responsibility as well as the filmmaker's relationship to his fraught and complicated material.

• 2007 Drakes Avenue R2 DVD at UK Amazon

• 2007 Koch Lorber Films R1 DVD at US Amazon

Russia: Banned in April 2015

Culture Ministry bosses, who claim the movie distorts historical facts, banned the release after a preview raised concerns about Hardy's character and the plot, set in Stalin-era Russia. A statement suggests the film's release in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two is unacceptable .

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky claims the movie depicts Russians as physically and morally base sub-humans .

Summary Notes

Based on the first of a trilogy by Tom Rob Smith and set in the Stalin era of the Soviet Union. The plot is about an idealistic pro-Stalin security officer who decides to investigate a series of child murders in a country where supposedly this sort of crime doesn't exist. The state would not hear of the existence of a child murderer let alone a serial killer. He gets demoted and exiled but decides, with just the help of his wife, to continue pursuing the case.

Clip

• Klip

Russia: Banned from cinema screenings

The film was banned over supposedly indecent language and scenes of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as pornographic depictions of sex between minors. The sex scenes are performed by adult body doubles.

Summary Review: Serbian Kids

Jasna is a teenage girl living in the poor suburbs in the south of Belgrade, Serbia. She likes to record everything around her using a mobile phone camera. She spends more and more time hanging out with her school friends, partying and drinking. Jasna starts to experiment with drugs and to skip school.

The main premise of the movie is to give a brutal insight into the everyday life of the Serbian youth through the eyes of a coming-of-age girl entering the adult (sex) life.

• 2013 Artsploitation R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

Germany : Passed 18 uncut for DVD and Blu-ray

The Club

• El Club

Italy: Banned across much of Italy in cinemas owned by the church.

The Catholic Church in Italy has effectively banned El Club across much of Italy by declaring it unfit to be shown in any of the theaters owned by the church.

Summary Notes

A crisis counselor is sent by the Catholic Church to a small Chilean beach town where disgraced priests and nuns, suspected of crimes ranging from child abuse to baby-snatching from unwed mothers, live secluded, after an incident occurs.

• R2 DVD at UK Amazon released on

Confidential Report: an Australian Transgression

Australia: Effectively banned as too violent for X18+ and too sexy for R18+ See  article from  thedrum.com : Banned by the very censorship it sought to expose

A politically charged documentary film, deemed suitable for inclusion in Australia's national film archive, which examines the ethics of censorship has found itself unable to be shown publicly after seemingly falling foul of the very laws it explores. Unable to obtain a rating or certification, the film is now effectively banned by the very censorship it sought to expose.

Since the early 2000s limited scenes of actual sex are allowed in Australia under an R18+ rating. Films like Michael Winterbottom's 9 Songs , John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus , Lars Von Trier's Anti-Christ , Gaspar Noe's Irreversible , Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses can be shown.

However, while the X18+ rating prohibits any violence, sexual violence or assaultive language in a film with actual sex, the presence of limited actual sex within the R18+ rating allows for an aesthetic combination of hardcore sex, violence and sexual violence, subject to the impact test. [meaningless bollox where by the censors claim to have some objective scale of censorability. Anything they want to ban or cut they describe it as a high impact, and then say it is banned because it is high impact, as if this was some sort of justification].

The intent of Confidential Report: an Australian Transgression is an exploration of these aesthetics and the censorship agenda that supports them, in the context of the specific underground Adelaide, South Australian community that deploys them as artistic tropes and is not in any way offended by them.

The film thus deliberately includes examples of all prohibited content -- actual sex, assaultive language, violence, sexual violence, blasphemy -- but staged in such a matter as to be constantly self-referential and, in terms of the impact test, comparatively mild and as aesthetics, unpolished, raw, home movie and social media inspired.

In so doing, the film depicts (interpretively) exactly the offensive aesthetics that straddle the R18+, X18+ and RC classifications.

As Confidential Report film includes sexually explicit scenes as well as both violence and sexual violence (and sexually assaultive language in performance), it deliberately includes taboo aesthetics as delineated in the Australian Film Classification Board Guidelines as prohibited. It arguably falls between Australia's two adults-only ratings R and X (for non-violent erotica).

• 2012 Transgressor R1 DVD at US Amazon

The Danish Girl

United Arab Emirates: Banned in January 2016
Oman:
Bahrain:
Jordan:
Kuwait:

A large propotion of ther Gulf Region followed Qatar in Banning the Danish Girl.

Qatar: Banned in January 2016

The Danish Girl has been pulled from cinemas in Qatar following online protests about the depravity of the film, which tells the story of an artist who underwent one of the world's first gender reassignment operations. Representatives from the country's culture ministry wrote on Twitter:

We would like to inform you that we have contacted the concerned administration and the screening of the Danish film is now banned from cinemas. We thank you for your unwavering vigilance.

The film had opened in cinemas in Doha on Thursday only to be banned four days later.

Promotional Material

Based on the book by David Ebershoff, The Danish Girl is the remarkable love story inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, portrayed by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), and directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Misérables). Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

• 2016 Universal Pictures UK RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2016 Universal Pictures UK R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• 2015 cinema release

• Universal RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• Universal R1 DVD at US Amazon

Deadpool

China: Banned in January 2016:

An R rated film is not really suitable for the Chinese market where it was banned by film censors due to its violence, nudity and graphic language.

India: Cut in February 2016:

Deadpool suffered 7 cuts at the hands of the CBFC for an adults only A rating:

• Several eferences to male and female reproductive organs ('cock', 'cunt') have been removed.
• A love-making scene has been shortened
• Shots of a head being blown off have been cut.
• A hand being cut off have been removed.
• Nudity has been removed from a strip club scene.

While India's Central Board Of Film Classification (CBFC) has removed strong language like arsehole , blowjob , motherfucker , dick , cock and bitch from Deadpool , the CBFC has allowed the word fuck a free rein in the film. Censor chief Pahlaj Nihalan explained:

We were aware of the 'F' word recurring in the soundtrack. There was no way we could remove them without affecting the dialogues. The word is used like an exclamation, how we use 'Arrey' or 'Oh Teri!' in Hindi and not as an abuse.

We can't be rigid about the use of cuss words. If the 'f..' word is used repeatedly as a term of exasperation or exclamation we can't remove it from the entire film.

Summary Notes

Based upon Marvel Comics most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

The Dictator

See trailer from youtube.com

Belarus : Banned

Tajikistan: Banned

A Tajik film distributor told the Kyrgyz blog Kloop.kg that the real reason that the film is being banned is because of its content, even though other former Soviet republics in the region will be showing the film. It's wrong to compare us with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and with other countries, Daler Davlatov told the site: It's incorrect because we have a different mentality. We're not going to give Dictator a premiere because of these considerations.

Turkmenistan : Banned

Uzbekistan : Cut by 12 minutes

• UK 2012 Paramount R0 Blu-ray/R2 DVD Combo at UK Amazon
• UK 2012 Paramount R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: The Extended Cut/Banned & Unrated Version is MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2012 Paramount Blu-ray/R1 DVD Combo at US Amazon
• US 2012 Paramount R1 DVD at US Amazon

Exodus: Gods and Kings

Epic adventure Exodus: Gods and Kings is the story of one man's daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion, Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

UAE: Banned December 2014

The United Arab Emirates became the latest country to ban the release of Exodus: Gods and Kings . A film censor from the National Media Council, Juma Obeid Al Leem, told Gulf News:

This movie is under our review and we found that there are many mistakes not only about Islam but other religions too. So, we will not release it in the UAE,

Egypt: Banned December 2014

Egypt has banned the Hollywood biblical epic movie Exodus: Gods and Kings for reasons of religious intolerance whilst citing 'historical inaccuracy'

Culture Minister Gaber Asfour told AFP Ridley Scott's blockbuster was rife with mistakes, including an apparent claim that Moses and the Jews built the pyramids. Asfour claimed:

This totally contradicts proven historical facts. It is a Zionist film. It gives a Zionist view of history and contains historical inaccuracies and that's why we have decided to ban it.

Mohammed Afifi, the head of the censorship committee, said he took issue with the scene showing the parting of the Red Sea in which Moses is seen holding a sword like a warrior, instead of a stick. Furthermore, he claimed, the parting of the Red Sea is explained in the movie as a tidal phenomenon rather than a divine miracle.

Morocco : Banned December 2014. Unbanned after cuts in January 2015.

Morocco has also banned the film, despite it already having been approved by the state-run Moroccan Cinema Center. Hassan Belkady, who runs Cinema Rif in Casablanca, told media24 news website that he had been threatened with the closure of his business if he ignored the ban.

Film censor Sarim Fassi Fihri said that the film approval Commission, the Ministry of Culture, the owners of cinemas and film distributors, and the Cinematographic Center, had all seen the film and had reservations about a scene which depicts God as a child during the period of revelation to Moses.

Later in January 2015,  Morocco's movie organization announced that the film will be shown in Morocco after Fox Studio agreed to cut sections deemed supposedly sacrilegious to Islam.

The center's statement said that Scott and Fox Studios agreed to remove two lines of dialogue that referred to the personnification of the Divine.

• 2015 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment [2D + 3D] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2015 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment [2D] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2015 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA PG-13 rated for:

• 2015 20th Century Fox RA Blu-ray at US Amazon 2015
• 2015 20th Century Fox R2 DVD at US Amazon

Father's Day

Australia : Banned but later unbanned on its 3rd attempt after about 40s of cuts. 30s of cuts to the sight of penis and 10s of violence.

The Australian Film Censorship Board explained its original ban:

The film is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code:  films that 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.

Summary Review: Brilliant

Ahab, a man obsessed with exacting a brutal, violent revenge on the man who murdered his dad, joins John, an eager priest, and Twink, a hot-headed street hustler, on an epic quest to find and defeat this mythical monster known as the Father's Day Killer.

I give it 10 stars from the shear amount of pleasure I got from watching (something I think gets lost in the mix at times). Is this for everybody? Most assuredly not. But if Hobo with a Shotgun sits in a place of honor in your collection this is an absolute must see!

• UK 2012 Spirit R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2013 Troma RA Blu-ray/R1 DVD Combo at US Amazon
• US 2013 Troma RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• US 2013 Troma R1 DVD at US Amazon
• US 2012 Troma RA Blu-ray/R1 DVD Combo at US Amazon

Fifty Shades of Grey

Cambodia: Banned in February 2015

Banned just a day before the movie's expected release on 12 February 2015

India: Banned in March 2015

The film distributor submitted a version with all the nudity pre-cut but it still wasn't enough for the Indian film censor. The sexy dialogue was also too much to bear particularly as the loony new censor is trying to ban strong language in all films.

Indonesia: Banned in February 2015

The distributor in Indonesia said the film would not be shown there as the film did not meet the country's censorship standards.

Kenya: Banned in February 2015

Banned by the state censors of the Kenya Film Classification Board with the announcement on facebook :

The Board wishes to inform the public, film operators and stakeholders that the film, 50 Shades of Grey has been RESTRICTED. It should not be screened or distributed to the public.

Malaysia: Banned in February 2015

The Malaysian Film Censorship Board (LPF) banned the movie with its chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid saying that the board had found the film to be unfit for the Malaysian audience, calling the flick more like pornography than a movie . He said:

The board made a decision in view of the film containing scenes that are not of natural sexual content. The content is more sadistic, featuring scenes of a woman being tied to a bed and whipped.

Nigeria: Banned in February 2015

Nigeria's National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has banned Fifty Shades of Grey, but only after the board had let it be shown for about a week. The board cites public interest as the reason for the ban.

Papua New Guinea : Banned in February 2015

Fifty Shades of Grey has been refused classification by the Papua New Guinea Censorship Office, preventing it from being shown in cinemas.

Russia: Banned in Ossetia, Ingushetia and Chechnya, February 2015

Russian news agency TASS reported that the erotic drama, which opened elsewhere in Russia on Feb. 12 with an 18+ age restriction, has been pulled out by cinemas in the republics of Ossetia, Ingushetia and Chechnya .

The initiative to send an address to the region's authorities, requesting that the film be banned, came from young people who are concerned about noticeable interest in the movie from those who are in the early twenties, Ossetian mufti Khadzhimurat Gatsalov was quoted as saying in the report.

TASS also quoted Madina Ayubova , a spokesperson for Kinostar, a theater in Chechnya's capital Grozny, as saying that film won't be exhibited in Chechnya because a lot of what is shown in [the film] contradicts the mentality and religion of the majority of the republic's population.

According to Gatsalov, the film is not going to be exhibited in any of the four remaining North Caucasus republics either.

Singapore: Banned on home video

Singapore's film censors passed the film R21 uncut for mature theme and sexual scenes. However the 21 rating bans the film from sale on home video

UAE: Banned in February 2015

UAE's film censors of the National Media Council have required 35 minutes of cuts due to inappropriate scenes, forcing distributor Four Star Films to pull the film. The council's director of media content Juma Al Leem told the paper.

We reviewed the movie in the presence of the distributor and after he realized how many inappropriate scenes there were, he took the decision not to show the movie himself, before we were able to make a decision.

Vietnam: Cut by 20 minutes in March 2015

In the days leading up to the release in Vietnam, the movie was banned in Indonesia, neighbouring Cambodia and Malaysia -- whose censors declared it to be more pornography than a movie . This stoked even more anticipation in Vietnam. Newspapers breathlessly speculated about how many minutes of screen time would be devoted to sex scenes, while cinemas created elaborate Red Room displays in their lobbies for people to take risque selfies.

The film was promoted a lot, so it made us excited and curious, says Xuan Thao, who along with thousands of others queued patiently to get a ticket for the film when it opened on Valentine's Day. We wanted to see what all the fuss was about. She left feeling angry and short changed. In this version of Fifty Shades of Grey there is no sex at all.

In total, around 20 minutes of screen time has been cut by the country's censorship committee, excising any scene deemed potentially sensitive. Only a few kisses remain. The lack of passion has infuriated audiences, who hadn't gone for deft plotting or complex characterisation. It's totally ridiculous, Thao complains. This version is rated 16+, but it doesn't need an age restriction; a five-year-old could watch it. Even the trailer was sexier. They'd have been better banning it altogether.

Zimbabwe: Heavily cut in February 2015

Zimbabwe's film censors have demanded heavy editing of the film Fifty Shades of Grey, leading to some movie theatres not screening it.

Two cinema houses in the capital Harare are screening an edited version of the movie. Sam Levy's Village was not screening it with the explanation:

It was felt that heavy censorship would compromise the integrity of the film and thus, a decision has been made by Ster-Kinekor Sam Levy's Village not to screen the film within its complex.

World censors' ratings:

• Argentina 16
• Australia: rated MA15+ (15A in UK ratings terminology) for strong sex scenes, sexual themes and nudity
• Brazil 16
• Cambodia Banned
• Canada (Quebec) 16+
• Canada (Canada except Quebec) 18A
• Chile 18
• China Unavailable as distributors think Chinese film censors would ban it
• Czech Republic: 15
• Denmark 15
• Finland 16
• France 12
• Germany 16
• Iceland 16
• India Banned
• Indonesia Banned
• Ireland 18
• Italy 14
• Japan R15+ after cuts
• Japan R18+ uncut
• Kenya Banned
• Lebanon 21 uncut
• Malaysia Banned
• Netherlands 16
• New Zealand R18 for sex scenes and offensive language
• Nigeria Banned
• Norway 15
• Papua New Guinea Banned
• Philippines R-18 after censorship cuts implemented by blurring
• Portugal M16
• Russia 18+ (banned in Ossetia, Ingushetia and Chechnya)
• Singapore R21 uncut for mature theme and sexual scenes. However the 21 rating bans the film from sale on home video
• South Korea 18
• Spain 16
• Sweden 15
• Switzerland 16
• Thailand 20
• UAE Banned
• UK 18 uncut for strong sex
• US: R rated (17A in UK ratings terminology) for strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language.
• Vietnam 16+ after 20 minutes of cuts which were required to make the film suitable for the masses
• Zimbabwe Heavily cut. Some cinemas have decided that the cut version is not worth showing

Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey.

• 2015 Universal [Theatrical + Extended] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2015 Universal [Theatrical + Extended] R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Found

Australia : Banned but later passed R18+ after about 2 minutes of cuts

The full 103m version was banned in May 2014

The film censor summarised the reasons for the ban as follows:

The film contains prolonged and detailed depictions of sexualised violence, including sexualised torture, mutilation, sexual activity with body parts and cannibalism, which result in a very high degree of impact. As such, this film exceeds what can be accommodated within the R18+ classification.

The Board notes that the film also contains depictions of nonsexual violence. These depictions of violence, which also include viscera, generous blood detail and gore, are mitigated by context and relatively unsophisticated production values to a level which can be accommodated at an R18+ classification. The scenes of sexualised violence, noted below, are more realistic and impactful, and result in a very high impact.

 A cut version missing about 2m was re-banned in August 2014

A further cut version missing about 2m was passed R18+ in August 2014. It was originally noted that the censored version was 7 minutes shorter but it appears that 4minutes of this is attributed to a PAL speedup). In fact the distributor, Monster Pictures, said that a total of about 2m was cut.

UK: Cut in September 2014

Passed 18 for strong bloody violence, sexualised violence, gory images after 4s of BBFC compulsory cuts

The BBFC commented: A cut was required to remove sight of a murderer's erect penis, during a scene of sadistic sexualised violence and threat.

Promotional Material

FOUND is a unique and supremely disturbing coming-of-age story of a boy whose big brother is a serial-killer.

Growing up is tough for Marty. His parents don't understand him and he is bullied at school. He has only his big brother to look up to...that is until he discovers his brother's chilling secret and a severed head in a sports bag at home.

FOUND unravels a gripping and gruesome story that captures what it's like to grow up in the time of VHS tapes and video nasties, as the American dream and everyday suburbia descends into a home-grown hell that will leave even the most hardened horror fan shocked by its disturbing finale.

• 2014 Xlrator R1 DVD at US Amazon

UK: Passed 18 for strong bloody violence, sexualised violence, gory images after 4s of BBFC compulsory cuts for:

• 2014 Monster Pictures R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Gandu

See trailer from youtube.com

India: Banned

Summary Review: Thrash-Metal Rap

Gandu (variously translated as Arsehole, Wanker and Loser ) is a thrash-metal rap musical about a young dopehead and his lust for fame and sex that, despite being banned in India, has become one of the country's most talked about films, with its explicit opium smoking, foul language and masturbation.

The confusion of a society in thrall to its own ancient morals while increasingly experiencing the wider world is acutely captured in Gandu, whose eponymous hero is an angst-ridden skinhead who yearns to rap with Asian Dub Foundation while loafing and getting high on the streets of Calcutta. Shot in black and white, it features a kung-fu-kicking rickshaw-wallah sidekick and an explicit blowjob scene performed by the director's girlfriend, followed by her squatting brazenly on the young man's face. The movie is a surreal Bengali mix of Jim Jarmusch kookiness and the raw sexuality of Nagisa Oshima, and is absolutely nothing like any Indian film I've ever seen. Gandu Gandu, a thrash-rap musical.

• US 2012 Kino Lorber R1 DVD at US Amazon

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Pakistan: Banned

The censors found that the film portrays Pakistan negatively, not just on the issue of the war on terror, but also in the context of the country's international standing. The following scenes were considered to be unfair representation of the country:

• Initial scenes depicting Pakistan as a failed state
• Fictionally portraying a foreign invasion of Pakistan's nuclear installations.
• A scene showing the assassination of the Pakistani president and the imposition of martial law

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

See trailer from youtube.com
 

Uncut at:

India:

India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) decided that the movie contained too much nudity - five scenes to be exact. Now, according to Variety, distribution has been cancelled entirely because David Fincher refuses to cut the film.

A spokesperson for Columbia Pictures in India said, The Censor Board has adjudged the film unsuitable for public viewing in its unaltered form and, while we are committed to maintaining and protecting the vision of the director, we will, as always, respect the guidelines set by the board.

Vietnam:

The film was to be released on March 2, but its international distributor, Sony Pictures, decided not to release it in Vietnam since the National Film Board requires the studio cut sensitive scenes from the movie, Tuoitre news reported.

UAE:

The new film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has been very well received by the critics, but will not be screened in the UAE because the film makers have refused to accept the eight cuts suggested by the censors.

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to make the cuts that were necessary for it to be screened. The filmmakers wouldn't allow it Piroska Szakacs from Empire International told The National.

Japan:

Nudity is pixellated

• UK 2012 Sony R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• UK 2012 Sony R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated for:

• US 2012 VOD to rent/buy [US only] at US Amazon
• US 2012 Sony R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon
• US 2012 Sony R1 DVD at US Amazon

Haider

Pakistan: Banned in October 2014

Citing the film's sensitive content , Pakistan's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) decided against the release of the film in Pakistan. A CBFC employee told The Express Tribune that Haider's controversial topic and propagandist nature are the reasons for this.

A senior official at the CBFC maintained that the film's ban:

Has nothing to do with the ongoing tension between Pakistan and India. Any film that is on a controversial topic, such as the Kashmir issue, will most likely not be released in the country.

The film is against the ideology of Pakistan. We have a professional panel of reviewers that assesses films while keeping in mind factors that a layman can't understand. He stated that certain Hindi words used in a film may seem harmless to an average audience member, but can have adverse effects on our culture.

Summary Notes

Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', Haider - a young man returns home to Kashmir on receiving news of his father's disappearance. Not only does he learn that security forces have detained his father for harboring militants, but that his mother is in a relationship with his very own uncle. Intense drama follows between mother and son as both struggle to come to terms with news of his father's death. Soon Haider learns that his uncle is responsible for the gruesome murder, what follows is his journey to avenge his father's death.

Half a Yellow Sun

Nigeria: Banned in April 2014. Cut and unbanned in July 2014.

The censorship board refused to grant a certificate in time for the premiere According to the director, Biyi Bandele, the movie was essentially banned as the country's film censorship board refused to issue the movie a certificate. Bandele said officials seemed to be

Jittery about its content. That it deals with the Biafran War (from 1967 to 1970). That it might incite people to violence.

Bandele denounced what he characterized as a blatant attempt to suppress discussion about a crucial if painful episode in Nigeria's coming-of-age:

It is seriously shocking that someone would presume to be this arbiter of what Nigerians want and don't want to see.

The film was unbanned in July 2014 with an 18 rating after censor cuts. The film will be released in August 2014.

Promotional Material

Based upon the acclaimed novel, Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in this beautiful sweeping story of two sisters caught up in the events of the Nigerian civil war, ending in chilling violence which shocked the entire world.

• 2014 SODA Pictures RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 SODA Pictures R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:

• 2014 MONTEREY VIDEO R1 DVD at US Amazon

Hanger

Australia: Banned by the Classification Board for:

• 2012 Bounty DVD

See  article from  refused-classification.com . The Australian Film Censor explained the ban as follows:

The film contains depictions of explicit sexual violence and sexualised violence that are very high in impact, as well as prolonged depictions of violence which are offensive and/or have a very high degree of impact. Depictions of violence include detailed mutilation and disfigurement, viscera and shattered bone as well as blood gushes, splatter and spray.

A male character is tortured with a blow torch while two others are choked to death - one with excrement and the other with a used tampon. Sexual themes underpin the depictions of violence with pornographic footage and still images featuring full frontal nudity with genital detail and explicit sexual intercourse frequently viewed in the background.

Other scenes of violence are cut with depictions of sexual activity and/or sexualised nudity. The sexual content and sexualised context both serve to heighten the overall impact of the violence viewed throughout the film.

This content exceeds what can be accommodated within the R18+ classification and, as such, is Refused Classification.

UK: Never submitted for release

Germany: Hanger was released July 2009 in a severely cut and censored version for the German market. Unfortunately a torrent version of this was spread around the world and undermined the standing of the film.

Summary Review: New Depths

Hardcore gore from Ryan Nicholson who previously directed Gutterballs, another extreme gore video that hasn't made it to the UK.

The director describes his film as:

A horrifying tale of revenge that begins with a back-alley abortion, and ends with a bloodbath so vicious that it brings a new meaning to an eye for eye. From pimps to dealers and hookers to junkies, this film dives headfirst into the depths of human depravity.

• US 2009 Vicious Circle R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

High School DxD

New Zealand: Banned

• Banned as 'objectionable' in 2014

See  OFLC Annual Report 2014 [pdf] from  classificationoffice.govt.nz :

The DVD is classified objectionable. The publication is the first set of episodes of a Japanese anime series set in high school about a sex-obsessed schoolboy who becomes part of the supernatural world. The DVD tends to promote and support the sexual exploitation of young persons. All of the young female characters are highly sexualised and fetishised. They are relentlessly depicted as nude or in limited sexualised clothing. Focus is made on their breasts and youthful bodies in such a way as to titillate and arouse the viewer. Their youthfulness is emphasised by the high school setting, their school uniforms and their engagement in high school activities. Episodes are separated by photo stills of the female characters sexually posing, reminiscent of adult pornographic material. The credits feature these characters performing strip tease. The scenes are constructed wholly for the sexual benefit of the viewer. The main purpose of this treatment is to reinforce the notion that young persons are sexually desirable and available. It encourages and legitimises the pursuit of young persons as viable adult sexual partners.

Summary Notes

The story follows Issei Hyodo, a dim-witted, lecherous second-year high school student who is killed by a girl on his first date ever. Issei is reincarnated as a devil, and from that day forward, he serves as an underling of Riasu, a high-level devil who is also the prettiest girl on Issei's campus.

• 2014 Manga Entertainment [Dubbed] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Manga Entertainment [Dubbed] R2 DVD at UK Amazon

House on the Edge of the Park

New Zealand: Banned as 'objectionable' in 2014

See  OFLC Annual Report 2014 [pdf] from  classificationoffice.govt.nz :

This film is deemed objectionable because it tends to promote and support violence and coercion to compel women to submit to sexual conduct.

The film is dominated by numerous scenes of sexual violence. It opens on a graphic scene of rape that is not supported by context. The narrative then follows two men as they terrorise a group of people, particularly the female members of the group, who they repeatedly subject to sexual violence. Gratuitous lingering shots of nudity and other cinematic effects such as romantic music and lighting during the scenes of assault and rape support this purpose. The sexual violence is not contextualized or explored beyond the superficial presentation of the conduct. The victims appear aroused by, unaffected by and thus collusive in the violence perpetrated against them; this feeds into the intrinsic rape myth dialogue of the publication. Viewers are relentlessly exposed to titillating images that eroticise sexual humiliation and violence.

All of these factors invite viewers to become complicit in events and to take vicarious pleasure in the men's misogyny and the victims' humiliation and dehumanisation. Further, due to the publication's proliferation of rape myths and relentless eroticized presentation of sexual violence, people who have been subjected to any form of sexual abuse will be re-traumatized by the film's depictions of violence and sexual violence. The legitimization of these rape myths also irredeemably serves to validate viewers' misconceptions of sexual violence and thus their real world response to sexual violence.

The Classification Office is aware that cut versions of the feature have been released in the United Kingdom and has considered whether a different classification might be possible if excisions were made. However the distributor has notified the Classification Office that any excisions will not be made, so in this instance they have not been recommended.

UK: Once banned, now cut

Banned by the BBFC for 1981 cinema release. Banned as a video nasty in 1983. Unbanned after 12 minutes of cuts in 2002. Cuts reduced to 43s in 2011.

The BBFC commented in 2011:

Company was required to make cuts to one sequence of sexualised violence in which a razor is traced over a woman's naked body, after which her body is cut with the razor.

• 2002 Bedford R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)

• Human Centipede 2

Famously banned in the UK for 2011 DVD but later passed 18 after heavy cuts. Also temporarily banned in Australia before later being passed R18+ with cuts. A cut version was released in the US Unrated by the MPAA. Later it was released uncut as the Director's Cut, still MPAA Unrated. Banned in New Zealand.

New Zealand: Banned

• Banned as 'objectionable' in April 2012

UK: Temporarily banned

• Banned by the BBFC in June 2011 .
• Unbanned by the BBFC in October 2011 after 2:37s of BBFC cuts

• Originally passed R18+ uncut by the Classification Board
• Banned on appeal by the Review Board in November 2011. The appeal was requested by NSW Attorney General, Greg Smith
• Unbanned by the Classification Board after 30s of cuts in December 2011.

The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) was banned by the Australian Classification Review Board (ACRB). The review was the result of an appeal against the previously uncut R18+ certificate awarded by the Classification Board. The appeal was requested by Australia's Justice Minister Brendan O'Connor, reportedly on the advice of the New South Wales Attorney General Greg Smith.

From the ACRB's official press statement:

A three member panel of the Classification Review Board has by unanimous decision determined that the film The Human Centipede II (full sequence) is classified RC (Refused Classification).

In the Review Board's opinion, The Human Centipede II (full sequence) could not be accommodated within the R 18+ classification as the level of depictions of violence in the film has an impact which is very high.

In addition, the film must be refused classification because it contains gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of violence with a very high degree of impact and cruelty which has a high impact.

Films classified RC cannot be sold, hired, or advertised in Australia.

Summary Review: Sick Fantasy

Inspired by the fictional Dr. Heiter, disturbed loner Martin dreams of creating a 12-person centipede and sets out to realize his sick fantasy.

This is the type of movie you will either like or hate, I doubt there will be much in between. The film is quite shocking, but not the most outrageous of the genre.

Actor Laurence R Harvey is masterful as Martin yet doesn't utter a single word of dialogue.

• US 2012 IFC RA Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon
• US 2012 IFC R1 DVD at US Amazon

The Hunger Games

See trailer from youtube.com

Vietnam: Banned

• Banned as being 'too violent' with a theme of kids killing kids. Perhaps more to do with Vietnam not being happy with a film that shows youngsters fighting back against a totalitarian state.

UK:  Cut

• Cut for a 12A Rating in the UK

Promotional Material: Survival vs humanity

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister's place and must rely upon her sharp instincts when she's pitted against highly trained Tributes who have prepared their entire lives. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

• UK 2012 Lions Gate R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA PG-13 rated for:

• US 2012 VOD to rent/buy [US only] at US Amazon
• US 2012 Lions Gate RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• US 2012 Lions Gate R1 DVD at US Amazon

I am Gay and Muslim

See trailer from youtube.com

Kyrgyzstan: Banned

Summary Review: Secretiveness

This intimate documentary follows a number of young Moroccan gay men in their exploration of their religious and sexual identity. The men portrayed in the film openly share their personal experiences and talk about the ambiguity and secretiveness of the life they feel condemned to live.

I Spit on Your Grave

Summary Notes

A writer who is brutalized during her cabin retreat seeks revenge on her attackers, who left her for dead.

New Zealand: Banned by the New Zealand's OFLC with the following justification:

The [2010 remake] contains long and realistic scenes showing the brutal terrorisation and rape of a woman by a group of men. Later scenes show her implausible but sadistic vengeance against her tormentors.

It encouraged attitudes that contribute to sexual violence, torture by terror and other extremes of cruelty and violence, particularly against women.

The treatment of the woman before she is raped, is an all-too-plausible and realistic version of the kind of abuse meted out to many women. There is minimal effort to explain the sadistic behaviour of the male characters.

The length of the scenes and their gratuitous focus on [her] suffering offer maximum opportunity for misogynistic pleasure. Viewers are repeatedly invited to share the point of view of the rapists and are therefore placed in the position of prurient voyeurs.

Some viewers may well identify with male dominance and power, and echo the men's enjoyment of the woman's terror and humiliation.

UK: Passed 18 after 17 BBFC cuts totalling 43s

• US 2011 Anchor Bay RA Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon
• US 2011 Anchor Bay R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

I Spit on Your Grave

• Day of the Woman
• I Hate Your Guts
• The Rape and Revenge of Jennifer Hill

Ireland : The version with BBFC cuts from 2010 was banned on video by the Irish censor in 2010.

See article from ifco.ie . IFCO commented:

Prohibited in accordance with Section 7 of The Video Recordings Act 1989 on the grounds that in the opinion of the Acting Director of Film Classification it depicts acts of gross violence and cruelty (including torture) towards Humans

The video was one of the prime targets of the moral press and it was listed as a Video Nasty in July 1983. It stayed on the list throughout so is therefore one the collectable DPP39s

Summary Review: Brutal

The film is evenly paced and unrelenting. One is forced to confront the brutality of rape and violence.

The actress is quite convincing and deserves recognition. The men are sickening and easily hated; they are just vicious animals without any redeeming qualities, yet they are believable.

Without question, the rape scenes are some of the most disturbing moments in cinematic history. The castration scene is unparalleled.

• 2011 Anchor Bay RA Blu-ray via UK Amazon and via US Amazon
• 2011 Anchor Bay R1 DVD via UK Amazon and via US Amazon

I Want Your Love

Australia: Banned from film festival showings by the Australian Censorship Board in 2013

Promotional Material

The hotly anticipated debut feature film from director Travis Mathews (INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR) is a bold and unflinching look at gay relationships among a group of San Francisco friends, which includes scenes of real sex, striking controversy amongst global film censors, including Australia where the film was banned in 2013.

After a decade of living in San Francisco, Jesse is forced to move back to his Midwestern roots because he can no longer afford the city. On his final night in the city, friends and ex-lovers gather for a going away party that promises to heighten Jesse's already bittersweet feelings about leaving into sharper focus. Torn between his creative dreams and the reality of earning a living, he's forced to take responsibility by redefining what it means to be an artist, a gay man, and an adult.

Featuring music from The Chromatics, I WANT YOUR LOVE is a passionate and deeply intimate film, that dares to capture the uncensored zeitgeist of modern-day San Francisco unlike any film before it.

• UK 2013 Peccadillo Pictures R2 DVD at UK Amazon

In a Glass Cage

• Tras el cristal

Australia: Banned

• The Mardi Gras Film Festival 1995 showing was banned by the Australian film. The ban was confirmed on appeal. See article from refused-classification.com
• The 2005 DVD release was banned by the film censor and this was confirmed on appeal.

UK: Never made it to the UK, perhaps in [probably misplaced] fear of BBFC censorship.

Summary  Review: A Black Heart

A former Nazi doctor-turned-pedophile, paralyzed from the neck down after a suicide attempt, is forced to accept a boy as his nurse under threat of blackmail. The boy possesses the man's diary, which details his wartime experiments and his subsequent descent into pedophilia and murder. Before long, the boy displays his ambition to follow in the older man's footsteps.

Although it is frequently mesmerizing and brilliantly filmed, its aesthetic beauty is unable to disguise its nihilism and black heart. The film nevertheless presents one of the only truly effective psychological portraits of human evil on film. It's a schizophrenic film to say the least. But it's an unforgettable one, as well.

• Es Filmax R2 DVD via UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2011 Cult Epics R0 Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon
• US 2011 Cult Epics R1 DVD  via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

The Interview

US: Initially banned by North Korea

Producers Sony were hacked by an organisation slightly unconvincingly attributed to North Korea. The hackers seemingly threatened violence against cinemas showing the film and unsurprisingly cinemas pulled out from showing the film. Sony responded by totally withdrawing the film from theatrical release.

Sony later allowed smaller independent cinemas to show the film but larger cinema chains chose not to screen the film

The 'ban' soon fizzled out.

Cambodia : Banned from cinema and TV

The Cambodian government responded to a request from North Korea to ban the movie. The government promised that the film would be banned from TV and cinema but seemed to lack the ability to control distribution via DVD. Not a formal ban as distributors dodn't then bother submit the film for approval for a thatrical release.

Malaysia: Banned or political content

Summary Notes

Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapoport run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show "Skylark Tonight." When they discover that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists.

• 2015 Sony RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2015 Sony R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:

• 2015 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon
• 2015 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment R1 DVD at US Amazon

The Irrefutable Truth About Demons

• The Truth About Demons

India:

• Banned by the CBFC in 2001

Summary Review: Horror Gem

Anthropologist Harry Ballard researches obscure demon cults and sects since his brother died, victim of one of those same demon-worshiping cults. One day he receives a threat from a so-called Black Convent, whose leader seeks to prey on Ballard. With the help of a strange, sexy woman he makes his way through the night in search of his salvation and the redemption of his lost brother.

Karl Urban has a hand in making this a horror gem. There are plenty of fast and violent action scenes with a lot of occult symbolism. Highly recommended

• UK 2007 Boulevard R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Kaum De Heere

India : Banned in August 2014

See  article from  deccanchronicle.com

It tells the story of Ms Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards who shot her dead apparently to avenge her decision to send troops in a deadly raid on the Golden Temple. Sikhs say thousands were murdered when the army entered Sikhism's holiest shrine in Amritsar to flush out militants. Mrs Gandhi's assassination triggered an outburst of communal violence targeted at Sikhs and more than 3,000 Sikhs were killed in attacks across India.

Chief film censor Leela Samson said after a review of the movie:

We saw the film and decided that it must not be released.

The home ministry earlier voiced serious concern at the content of the Punjabi film, and asked the I&B ministry to take a relook at its clearance. It said the Punjabi-language film Kaum De Heere may affect communal harmony in Punjab and other northern states.

• 2014 cinema release

Khairlanjichya Mathyawar

India : Banned by the courts in 2014

See article from timesofindia.indiatimes.com :

Marathi film Khairlanjichya Mathyawar has now been officially banned by the courts and cannot be screened in any theatre or film festivals. The certification, U/A, which had previously been issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), has been withdrawn and the makers of the film have to apply and re-issue another certificate to screen it.

The movie based on the real life tragedy in which four members of Bhotmange family were lynched by a frenzied mob in Khairlanji village in Bhandara on September 29, 2006.

Director Raju Meshram said:

The court has banned the film and CBFC has asked us to have a meeting with Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, the lone survivor of the incident, before we proceed with the case. We are planning to have a discussion with him in Mumbai soon.

When contacted, Bhotmange said:

We had appealed to the court and I am glad that the film has been stopped from being screened. I am also not interested in having any discussion with the makers in Mumbai, as I feel that my deceased family's sentiments have been hurt. If they want, they can come to Nagpur, but I am not going to change my mind.

The Last Communist

Malaysia: Banned

See  article from  hollywoodreporter.com

Director Amir Muhammad s lyrical documentary, The Last Communist , premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2006. But it was banned by Malaysia's Home Ministry for cinema and DVD.

A travel documentary essay, interspersed with specially composed songs, about the early life and legacy of Chin Peng, exiled leader of the banned Communist Party of Malaya.

Amir's film was approved for screening by the censorship board, but weeks before it was due for local release, conservative daily, Berita Harian published a series of editorials deriding the film as an anti-Malaysian celebration of Communism, it was subsequently re-examined and banned.

At the time, home minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said his biggest issue with the film was that it didn't portray any violence, which could lead the viewer to think that Chin Peng was a peaceful figure, director Amir was quick to point out, in several interviews, that The Last Communist may be the only movie ever to have been banned for not being violent enough.

• 2007 CustomFlix R0 DVD-R at US Amazon

Love

Russia: Banned in September 2015

Love has now been banned in Russia by state censors from Russia's culture ministry. A statement from the department chiefs reads:

The decision is based on the fact that the film contains numerous pornographic scenes.

Reports suggest the censors asked for a thorough edit, but were not satisfied with the softer version of the movie, even though it had less sexual content than the one screened at Cannes.

France: Controversy

Originally 16 rated in France but moralist campaigners objected and a court raised the rating to 18, a classification previously reserved for pornography.

Japan: Censored

Not banned but all the explicit sex has been blurred by Japanese censors.

Promotional Material

From the controversial diretor of Irreversible and Enter the Void comes a sexual melodrama about a boy and his two girls. It's a love story, which celebrates sex in a joyous way.

• 2015 cinema release
• 2015 Curzon / Artificial Eye (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2015 Curzon / Artificial Eye R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA NC-17 rated for:

• 2016 Alchemy R0 DVD/(RA) Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon

Macabre

• Rumah Dara
• Darah

See trailer from youtube.com

Malaysia: Banned

• Said to be the first Indonesian film banned in Malaysia on grounds of violence

Indonesia: Cut by 30s

Singapore: Cut by 30s

Summary Review: Grim and Messy

Two newly weds Adjie and Astrid, along with 3 of their best friends decided to have an interstate road trip as a last attempt to reconcile Adjie with his estranged little sister Ladya.

The night turns into a bloody-hell for the 6 friends, who find themselves trapped and hunted down by Dara and her cult-like family of her three deadly proteges, born and raised to systematically eliminate unsuspecting passers-by for one nefarious reason...

One of the highlights of the Cannes 2010 festival, Macabre dishes up the deaths in very assured and bloodily violent form.

The film delivers the goods in messy style. Breaking with tradition, those whom you think would or deserve to survive, do not. There is also no humour to alleviate the situation. Just grim well crafted nastiness.

• UK 2012 Showbox R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Madras Cafe

India: Banned by cinemas in Tamil Nadu

The movie is proving controversial in India as it is based on the Sri Lankan civil war and speculates about the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Tamil activist groups are calling for the film to be banned. The film was passed by the Indian censors and escaped court bans but was banned by cinema exhibitors in the state of Tamil nadu.

UK: Banned by cinemas

Now the film has been banned by British cinemas in August 2013. UK cinema chains, Cineworld, Odeon and Vue, have banned the film saying in a statement:

Our policy is to show a wide range of films for different audiences ...HOWEVER... following customer feedback and working with the film distributors, we have decided to not show Madras Cafe. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Press reports suggested that some Tamils had complained that the film was anti-Tamil. The Facebook page of the Tamil Youth Organisation UK has been full of agitation against the film.

Man of Steel

Pakistan: Banned

Banned by the film censor with no explanation offered beyond that the film violated the Motion Pictures Ordinance of 1979.

Summary Notes

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

Maniac

New Zealand: Banned from general release.

See database page from censorship.govt.nz . The film contains:

Graphic violence, sex scenes and content that may disturb.

The censor added a note of explanation for the ban:

While the feature does not actively promote or support this material, the tacit invitation to enjoy cruel and violent behavior through its first-person portrayal and packaging as entertainment is likely to lead to an erosion of empathy for some viewers,

Promotional Material

Elijah Wood stars in this remake of director William Lustig's 1980 horror classic of the same name. To say that Frank (Wood) is a troubled young man would be an understatement - as the ever-growing number of young women he has murdered since the death of his mother (America Olivo), with whom he enjoyed an unhealthily close relationship, demonstrates only too well. Frank runs a mannequin store and likes to apply the scalps of his victims to the models in his spare time. However, when beautiful young artist Anna (Nora Arnezeder) wanders into the store and talks about making use of its resources for an exhibition she is planning, she presents Frank with a troubling quandary. Anna appears to offer the possibility of a human relationship that will fill the void created by his mother's death, but she also excites his desire to kill and possess. Will Frank be able to overcome his homicidal urges?

• 2013 Metrodome RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2013 Metrodome R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Mastizaade

India: Banned June 2015:

After being banned by the Examining Committee and the Revising Committee, the new Sunny Leone starrer Mastizaade directed by Milap Zaveri has now been refused certification by the appeals Tribunal. The Appeals Tribunal wrote:

There is no redeeming feature of any sort in the film. The film is only concerned with the exploration of the different parts of the human anatomy, both male and female, and is such as to deprave the minds of the audience. We are thus constrained to hold that. Freedom of expression cannot and should not be interpreted as a license for the cine-magnates to make huge sums of money by pandering to shoddy and vulgar tastes.

India: Unbanned January 2016

After the initial ban, the producer had volunteered 349 cuts and the CBFC suggested 32 more and it was then cleared with A certificate after a total of 381 cuts.

• 2016 cinema release

Meet the Feebles

Ireland: Banned

Banned in Ireland. See article from en.wikipedia.org

Summary Notes

Heidi, the star of the "Meet The Feebles Variety Hour" discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her, and with all the world waiting for the show the assorted co-stars must contend with their own problems. These include drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, Drug dealing, and even murder. While this is happening the love between two of the stars is threatened by the devious Trevor the Rat, who wishes to exploit the young starlet for use in his porno movie business.

• De Laser Paradise R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:

• 2002 Spectrum R1 DVD at US Amazon

Megan is Missing

See trailer from youtube.com

Banned in New Zealand:

• The film censor found the film to be 'objectionable'.

Perhaps a few clues about the reason for the ban in the promotional material:

On January 14th, 2007, 14-year-old Megan Stewart disappeared. Three weeks later, her 13-year-old best friend Amy Herman also vanished. Assembled from video chats, webcam footage, home videos and news reports, this is what happened in the days immediately before -- and after -- Megan went missing.

From writer/director Michael Goi comes this unblinking depiction of internet predators and child abduction as seen through the eyes of two North Hollywood teens. Their language is blunt. Their behavior is shocking. And their fate is absolutely horrific. Amber Perkins, Rachel Quinn and Dean Waite star in this disturbing and often explicit drama about a real-life world of risks and danger that every teen must know...and no parent can afford to miss.

• US 2011 Anchor Bay R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

The Mexican

India:

• Banned by the CBFC in 2001

Summary Review: Cursed Gun

A man tries to transport an ancient gun called The Mexican, believed to carry a curse, back across the border, while his girlfriend pressures him to give up his criminal ways.

A crazy, fun, off-the-wall, slightly indulgent spaghetti western styled would be Tarantino farce. It's great and it's lame compared to what it could have been.

• UK 2006 Dreamworks R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated for:

• US 2001 Dreamworks R1 DVD at US Amazon

Mizo

South Korea : Banned

Mizo was banned by the Korea Media Rating Board's (KMRB) claiming:

The premise of the film damages and distorts our sense of human dignity and value, and has the potential danger of disrupting social order and public sentiment.

Nominally the censors gave it a restricted rating, which means that such films can only be shown in specialty theaters, of which none actually exist in the country.

However the film may finally hit local theaters next week, as filmmakers have censored parts deemed problematic. Filmmakers hope blur effects will help overturn the Korea Media Rating Board's (KMRB) de facto ban. The KMRB is now in the process of reviewing the censored version of the film.

The incenstuous drama is about a young woman who, after having long been sexually abused by her adoptive parents, sets out to find her biological father. She seeks to make him fall in love with her only to eventually kill herself, thereby breaking his heart and avenging her pain.

Morgue Street

Australia: Banned

• Banned from a film festival showing in April 2013

Morgue Street was slated for screening at the A Night Of Horror Film Festival in Sidney, but the Australian Classification Board banned it with a 'Refused Classification' rating, two days before the screening, claiming

its material that is considered to offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults.

Summary Notes

Further clues about the reason for the ban from review from  horror-movies.ca:

Morgue Street takes the cake when it comes to being one of the most violent and disturbing movies I have seen in years. Morgue Street is an edgy, polished and extremely disturbing horror short that crosses just about every line you can imagine in its 11 minute running time.

Morgue Street is based upon the story The Murders in The Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe. It tells the story of two prostitutes, mother and daughter, struggling against a mysterious creature that breaks into their home.

Brian Yuzna called it An original artistic horror while cult author Jack Ketchum blessed it as impressive and perverse .

Morituris

Italy: Banned

• The film makers said in a press release that the Italian Culture Ministery (il Ministero dei Beni Culturali), had decided to ban Morituris from Italian cinemas. The film censorship commission claimed that the film was a gratuitous essay of perversion and sadism. The commission unanimously reached the decision to ban the film on grounds of:

  offence to good morals, intending acts of violence and perversion against women, motivated by enjoying of overcoming and thrill of self strength, empowered by consume of alcohol and drugs. The avengers find revenge against both boys, guilty of violence, and girls, victims of violence.

Promotional Material

Two lovely Romanian girls take a trip with three Italian men to a rumored midnight rave in the middle of a dark forest. As the gang proceeds on foot to their final destination, a mysterious graveyard is discovered, a shockingly vile plot twist is revealed and bloodthirsty undead Roman gladiators rise from the dead to torture and mutilate their victims! For the two women, an already terrifying night is about to get much, much worse, as the zombified warriors hunt down the group to tear their heads off! Will anyone survive the night?

An interesting mix of old school 1980s Italian horror, with a touch of the brutality of Wes Craven's THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, MORITURIS is an unflinching, strong, cruel and extremely violent film featuring gruesome effects from Italian SPFX maestro, Sergio Stivaletti (DEMONS, DEMONS 2, DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE, Dario Argento's OPERA).

• 2015 Synapse Films (RA) Blu-ray
• 2015 Synapse Films R1 DVD

Movie 43

Kenya : Banned

• Banned by the film censor citing 'extreme elements of sex and nudity

The Kenya Film Classification Board corporate communication officer Eva Mbuni explained:

We are applying the law to protect children and youth. They have young, gullible minds that need to make informed choices. Content which promotes sex, nudity, use of alcohol and drugs needs to be discouraged.

Summary Notes: The most banned movie in the world

A series of interconnected short films follows three kids as they search the depths of the Internet to find the most banned movie in the world.

• 2013 Technicolor/Momentum [UK + US Version] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2013 Technicolor/Momentum [UK Version] R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Much Loved

A group of women in Morocco make a living as prostitutes in a culture that is very unforgiving toward women in that profession.

Morocco: Banned in May 2015

The government announced that it would not be screened, claiming it to be a grave outrage against moral values and Moroccan womanhood , and a flagrant attack on the kingdom's image .

The director and the lead actress have now been summonsed to court on charges of supposed pornography, indecency and inciting minors to debauchery.

No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka

India: Banned

See  article from  colombogazette.com

The controversial documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka ; has been refused a censor certificate for release in theaters by the Indian Central Board of Film Certification.

The censors banned the films on the supposedgrounds it may strain friendly relations with Sri Lanka. Claiming that most of the visuals are of a disturbing nature .

The revelation of the Indian ban follows what appears to be a concerted campaign by the Sri Lankan government to pressurize foreign governments to stop the film being seen

Malaysia: Banned

See  article from  fidh.org

Lena Hendry, Programme Coordinator of the Malaysian human rights NGO Pusat KOMAS, has been charged under the Film Censorship Act for organising a private screening of the documentary film called No Fire Zone, the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka .

Pressure originally came from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Malaysia. They faxed a letter to the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Right Committee (KLSCAH) asking them not to screen the documentary. On July 1, 2013, Lena Hendry had received a call from the Censorship Board of the Ministry of Home Affairs, who asked the organisers to stop the screening because the film had not gone under censorship. She had replied that the screening was private and upon invitation only.

The private showing was raided by about 30 officials of the KDN, immigration officials and the police entered the Chinese Assembly hall and requested to check the film.

Nepal: Banned

Banned from  Film Southasia 2013 film festival in Kathmandu following a directive from the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Sri Lanka : Banned

A ban that Sri Lanka has tried to inflict on other countries too.

Summary Notes

No Fire Zone is a feature length film about the final awful months of the 26 year long Sri Lankan civil war told by the people who lived through it...

Noah

Banned in Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, UAE

Bahrain: Banned by the film censor

China : Banned in May 2014

Getting Noah past China's cinematic censors was stymied due to Beijing's sensitivities on religious issues, according to the Hollywood Reporter trade journal. A source said: This was for religious reasons, though it seems the whole issue was quite complicated.

Indonesia: Banned by the film censor

Indonesia's film-censorship board has banned Darren Aronofsky's upcoming movie Noah on the grounds that it showed an image of Noah who is considered to be a prophet in the religion of islam.

The chairman of the censorship board said the story presented in Noah ran counter to the relevant verses in the religious book, the Koran. Mukhlis Paeni said:

There are many considerations. The first thing is the content of Noah is against our beliefs or not according to the story in the holy book.

Malaysia: Banned by the government film censor

A home ministry official has confirmed that Noah will not be screened in Malaysia. Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, chairman of the home ministry's Film Censorship Board, said the decision to ban the film was made about two weeks ago. He said:

Yes, I can confirm that it has been banned by the board, the movie can cause quite a lot of anger and distress if it is shown in Malaysia.

Abdul Halim said the main reason for the ban was the portrayal of Noah by Crowe, since Islam forbids visual depictions of any prophet.

Qatar : Banned by the film censor

UAE: Banned

The National Media Council (NMC), the UAE film censor, confirmed that the film had been banned for reasons of religious intolerance. Juma Obaid Al Leem, director of the Media Content Tracking Department at the NMC said:

The film conflicts with all religions. Out of respect for these religious sentiments, we are banning the film.

Summary Notes

Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.

The film was not without censorship concerns in the US. The studio was said to be concerned that the director's version may not go down well with the religious. However screenings with test audiences did not convince the studio that was a need for change. So the original director's version got the go ahead. However a disclaimer was added to posters to distance the film from religious criticism:

The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. The biblical story of Noah can be found in the Book of Genesis.

• 2014 Paramount (RA) Blu-ray/R1 DVD Combo at US Amazon
• 2014 Paramount R1 DVD Combo at US Amazon

Nymphomaniac

Armenia:

• Withdrawn from one cinema after pressure from campaigners

An Armenian film director has denounced today a private cinema theater in Yerevan for cancelling the premier of a scandalous Danish director Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac due to numerous complaints by some citizens and social groups," without naming any of them. Cinema Star said its operation was "family-oriented" and to avoid conflicting opinions" about the film it decided to cancel its premier in Yerevan.

Romania:

• Volume II was banned from public exhibition in January 2014
• Unbanned a couple of days later

The news of the ban swept through the European press. The government felt the shame and within a couple of days the film censor was sacked, and the film was unbanned.

Georgica Severin, chairman of the Romanian senate's culture committee criticised the decision, pointing out the fact that Nymphomaniac: Volume I was already running in the country's cinemas.

Then the Hollywood Reporter said the president of the ratings commission, Cristina Corciovescu, had been dismissed and that the film's rating had been changed to Romania's version of an 18 certificate. The paper quoted an email from Antoine Bagnaninchi, managing director of Independenta film, which said it was great publicity for the film but very bad for the image of Romania .

Turkey:

• Banned by the film censor in February 2014

Turkey's film board banned the film outright on a vote of six to two that Nymphomaniac be classified as pornography.

The board includes members of Turkey's cultural, interior and education ministries as well as a psychologist and a sociologist.

This film is in the porn category...because of its explicit sexual scenes, Turkey's cinema general director Cem Erkul told AFP: It also depicts extreme violence against women.

Japan: Censored

Not banned but all the explicit sex has been blurred by Japanese censors.

Summary Notes

The continuation of Joe's sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adult life and what led to her being in Seligman's care.

• 2014 Artificial Eye [Vol I + Vol II] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Artificial Eye [Vol I + Vol II] R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• 2014 cinema release

US: The Director's Cut is MPAA Unrated for:

• 2014 Magnolia [Director's Cuts: Vol I + Vol II] RA Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon
• 2014 Magnolia [Director's Cuts: Vol I + Vol II] R1 DVD at US Amazon

US: The Theatrical Version is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• 2014 Magnolia [Vol 1 + Vol 2] (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon
• 2014 Magnolia Vol 1 (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon
• 2014 Magnolia Vol 2 (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon

Of Good Report

South Africa :

• Banned in 2013 by the film censorship board
• Unbanned in 2013. The film was unbanned a few days later by the appeal board

See  article from  iol.co.za : Banned for under age sex featuring a 23 year old

Censorship marred the opening of the 34th Durban International Film Festival (Diff) when the Film and Publication Board banned the opening film, Of Good Report.

According to the censor board's classification committee they stopped watching the film at 28 minutes and 16 seconds because the film contained child pornography. At this point in the film 16-year-old Nolitha (played by 23-year-old Petronella Tshuma) is depicted in her Grade 9 school uniform. Since she had engaged in a sexual act with an adult in a preceding scene, this is depiction of child pornography, according to the board.

In an e-mailed letter to the Diff manager, Peter Machen, the board refused to classify the film and ordered the festival to either destroy or surrender copies of the film to the police.

The film makers will now appeal the ban.

Of Good Report producer Mike Auret, of Spier Films, said the film had been picked up for screening at the next Berlin, Rotterdam, Toronto and Dubai film festivals.

See  article from  twitchfilm.com :

The film censors stopped viewing the film as soon as they suspected the depiction of child porn, and so missed the following contextualising scenes that would have put their minds at rest.

OMG Oh My God

UAE: Banned

• Banned for religious content

Malaysia : Banned

• Officially banned by the Malaysian Censorship Board citing sensitive religious elements as the cause.

Summary Review: Suing God

It is a film about a shopkeeper who takes the religious character God to court after his store is destroyed by a tornado.

It was passed PG by the BBFC for infrequent mild language and slapstick violence.

Phantom

Pakistan: Banned in August 2015

The Indian movie, Phantom was set to be released on August 28 both in Pakistan and India, but its screening is now banned in Pakistani cinemas as the result of a case in the Lahore High Court. It follows the pattern of Pakistanis not being impressed by being depicted as the bad guys.

In this case, a lawyer representing a suspected bad guy wanted by the U.S., brought the case over being depicted as a terrorist who is the target of an assassination in the film. The internationally designated terrorist who was the brains behind the 26/11 attacks felt that this movie would somehow mislead the residents of Pakistan.

Summary Notes

Phantom is a political thriller that unfolds across various countries around the world. The plot revolves around protagonist Daniyal, whose journey to seek justice takes him from India to Europe, America and the volatile Middle East. However, he finds out that in a mission like this, there is always a price to pay, in this case, a very personal price.

• 2015 cinema release

The President

Cameroon : Banned

See  article from  humanipo.com :

The film is a story about a fictional president who disappears days before the general election, and refers to Cameroon's strongman President Paul Biya, who has been in power for more than three decades.

The film premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in July and touches on a number of taboo subjects including the ailing health of President Biya, who spends most of his time outside the country for treatment, and a reflection of other presidents in similar circumstances including Eduardo de Santos, of Angola, and Zambia's Michael Sata said to be in India or London.

This film, although set in Cameroon, is said to be a reflection of a number of African countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria whose presidents have died in power after undergoing treatment for years amid denial from aides and parties.

The Raid 2

• The Raid 2: Berandal

Cut for a US R rated release. Uncut in Europe. Banned in Malaysia

Malaysia: Banned

Banned by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia in March 2014 due to the violent content.

Summary Notes

Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force

• Entertainment One RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• Entertainment One R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Raaz 3

UAE: Banned

• Banned for sexually explicit scenes and the portrayal of the spiritual world

Summary Notes:

The film director must save his love from the black magic of a wicked woman who has become blind in love, lust and passion.

• R0 DVD at UK Amazon

Rana Plaza

Banned by the Bangladesh film censor, a decision upheld after an appeal.

Summary Review

The film is based on the tragic Rana Plaza collapse. The movie centers on garment factory worker Reshma Begum's 17-day fight to survive under the debris of Rana Plaza, a building that collapsed on April 24, 2013.

Bangladesh: Banned by the film censor in 2015

See  article from dhakatribune.com

The movie revealed a little too much about dire safety and working conditions in Bangladeshi factories and was subject to a series of censorship hurdles.

The movie centers on garment factory worker Reshma Begum's 17-day fight to survive under the debris of Rana Plaza, a building that collapsed on April 24, 2013.

On July 17 2015, the High Court got involved in the censorship process and directed the authorities concerned to delete some scenes from the film saying they were too graphic and may have detrimental effects on public sentiment.

Presumably with the cuts made, the film was cleared by the Bangladesh Film Censor Board for a premiere on September 4. But the High Court again stepped in on August 24, slapped a six-month ban on its release following a plea by the Bangladesh National Garment Workers League chief Sirajul Islam. It also stayed the censor board's clearance of the movie. The petitioner had claimed that the movie has frightening scenes and the names of security forces were used in it, which is a violation of the law.

Further legal hearings followed in September, unbanning and re-banning the film, until the government stepped in November 3 and blocked the screening of the movie pending an appeal filed with the censor board.

And in the latest step in January 2016, the Appellate Committee of the board refused to grant the film a certificate saying that the committee had found the movie not suitable for public viewing.

The Rocket

Laos : Banned from film festival showing in 2013

Laos censors have stopped the Lao-language film from screening because it deals with the touchy issue of relocating villagers for the construction of hydro-electric dams in the country. The Lao government wants to transform the country into the battery of South-east Asia by exporting power to Thailand and Vietnam.

Summary Notes

A boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him leads his family and two new friends through Laos to find a new home. After a calamity-filled journey through a land scarred by the legacy of war, to prove he's not bad luck he builds a giant rocket to enter the most exciting and dangerous competition of the year: the Rocket Festival.

While a record 76 films are competing for the foreign-language Oscar, many Hollywood pundits consider The Rocket a solid chance, given the acclaim it has received in the US, including three awards at the New York's Tribeca Film Festival, selection for Sundance's touring program and a warm reception at AFI Fest in Los Angeles.

Rouh's Beauty

• Halawet Rouh
• Halawet Rooh

Egypt: Banned in April 2014

Egypt's interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahleb has banned a recently released Egyptian film, Halawet Rooh (Rouh's Beauty) . It will now be withdrawn from movie theatres and resubmitted to the country's censorship board.

The decision comes after the for-adults-only film, released on 3 April, was hit with a wave of moral indignation accusing it of containing heavy sexual connotations that violate the Egyptian moral code .

The film, which revolves around Rooh, played by Egyptian/Lebanese diva Haifa Wahbe, who becomes the object of desire of all the men in her working class neighbourhood while her husband is away.

A review published last week in the Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm took aim at Halawet Rooh under the title of How to Make an Egyptian Porno , which accused the film of unsuccessfully posing as drama while it was only concerned with sexually arousing the audience .

Egypt: Unbanned in November 2014

Egypt's administrative court has revoked a Cabinet decree banning the screening of a sexually provocative film starring Lebanese pop diva Haifa Wehbe.

Qatar: Under duress but not banned

Meanwhile the easily offended in Qatar have also been campaigning against the film.

Supposedly, the indecent nature of the film has caused social media outrage due to the x-rated content, which was deemed inappropriate to the norms of the conservative Arab culture. The hashtag #banbeautyofthesouldmovie was trending on Twitter in support of banning the film from screening in Qatari cinemas.

In the end the campaigners did not manage to get the film banned.

Russia 88

• Rossiya 88

See trailer from youtube.com

Banned in Russia:

• Banned in Russian cinemas. See UK Amazon
• However it is available for sale on home DVD

Summary Review: Romper Stomper meets This is England

This film was always meant to be controversial and is proving to be just that. Director Pavel Bardin has made a mockumentary film supposedly about working class Russian skinheads.

It has been sold as Romper Stomper meets This is England quoting from Variety. However, it is not as good as either; it owes more in terms of style and presentation to the excellent Man Bites Dog Man Bites Dog but fails to achieve the humour or poignancy that the Belgian classic managed.

• UK 2011 Safecracker R2 DVD at UK Amazon

A Serbian Film

• Srpski film

Uncut at:

Banned in New Zealand for DVD in May 2012

The film censor explained the ban. See article [pdf] from censorship.govt.nz

There is a high likelihood that viewers would be greatly shocked and disturbed by the extreme sexual violence and violence in association with sexual conduct, along with sexual conduct with children and young persons, regardless of age. The publication's sexual violence and violence in association with sexual conduct is concerning in a different way. Research has repeatedly shown that such depictions are likely to reinforce negative attitudes towards women in a number of ways. They have been shown to desensitise viewers to real-life violence, to reduce empathy with victims of sexual violence amongst both men and women, to increase rape myth acceptance, and to increase women's fear of sexual assault. In the current publication this material is so extensive and extreme that these injuries to the public good are likely to occur regardless of the age of the viewer.

Banned in Australia:

• December 2010 - April 2010: Rejected by the Classification Board, cut, rejected, cut some more and then passed R18 after similar cuts to the UK release
• September 2010 - The R18 certificate was challenged by the government and the film was banned by the Review Board
• Current Status: Banned in Australia

Banned in Norway:

See  article from  tnp.no

Norwegian Media Authority (Mediatilsynet) banned A Serbian Film because it contains violence with the sexualisation of children. Ove Wathne of Mediatilsynet told daily Dagens Naeringsliv that it is usually an ingredient that provides a basis for an assessment of the Authority.

In Norway films are self rated by the distributors. The Norwegian media censors step in on demand, presumably in response to complaints or controversy.

R eview : So what did the BBFC find so cuttable?

From Andrew. Review contains spoilers and may contain descriptions some people may find concerning.

Against all my better judgments I've just sat through an uncut print of A Serbian Film . I say my better judgments, because for me these (I hate this term) torture porn films, hold absolutely no interest at all. How they can be branded horror films is beyond me. To me, horror is something that scares you, and makes you jump, not offends you. Anyway that's purely academic, back on point, I was lucky enough to see an uncut print of A Serbian Film , now for a lot of you this will seem like nothing special, but here in the UK, it's been trimmed by just under 4 mins. I've yet to see the BBFC approved print, but if all they have done is simply lessen the impact of scenes, this will still upset a lot of people.

That being said, I can certainly understand the BBFC's point. While I'm no fan of censorship (I wouldn't be on here if I was), I do believe that a metaphorical line should be drawn in the sand, especially when dealing with children and sex in films. Even to this day, I'm still quite edgy around Larry Clarke's Kids . Which brings me onto the big problem with A Serbian Film . The use of children. While one scene involves newborn porn (sex with a baby) , it does look very fake, and some might even say it's meant to, as it's supposed to be a metaphor and blah blah blah. The scene that really did make me think the BBFC had a point was a joint rape, involving two sheet covered bodies, our main character, Milos, and another man (who's masked) raping them. While this is not shocking as such, what is revealed later in the scene will be too much for some people, as it turns out the masked man, is Milos' brother (a sheriff), who's raping Milos' wife, and Milos is in fact raping his own (heavily drugged) young son. While you don't actually see anything as such, the repeat viewings could be seen as being titillating and arousing for certain viewers. Whether this scene is one of the 49 cuts I can't say, but I'd be surprised if theirs not a few in their, as it does suggest you can easily drug and anally rape a child, and not have to look at them.

Although, their are a lot of violent sex scenes, I think the one the BBFC will have had a problem with, is suffocation via fellatio. One of the support characters (having had her teeth knocked out), is forced to have a penis rammed down her throat resulting in her suffocating and dying. The fact that this is played very real, and does go on, is, I imagine, something that hasn't sat well with them (the BBFC rarely allow these gagging scenes in R18 films (hardcore porn)). That being said, I'll be surprised if they were phased by the necrophilia / rigor mortis sex moments, as they can come off as laughable (as does the death via penis to eye socket), even in the context they're in, and movies like Donkey Punch , seem to have faired off fine, so I doubt they were a problem.

While all the above scenes are shocking and uncomfortable to watch, this film IS very good. And I think that will be it's downfall, you won't forget it, and that scares censors. It doesn't look like some snuff film from Tijuanna. It looks glossy, Hollywood, the cinematography is excellent, the acting top notch (especially as it's subtitled), it looks like a well made, well polished mainstream film. Maybe that's the problem. It's just too damn good.

• US 2012 Invincible Pictures R1 DVD at US Amazon

Denmark: The Scandinavian release on the Cinematic Vision is uncut but has no English subtitles for the Serbian soundtrack

US:  Pre-cut by about 1:00s and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2011 Invincible RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• US 2011 Invincible R1 DVD at US Amazon

UK: Passed 18 after 49 BBFC cuts totalling 4:12s for:

• UK 2011 Revolver Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• UK 2011 Revolver R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• UK 2010 cinema release

Sex Tape

India: Banned by the CBFC in July 2014

A source from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) says, Owing to excess vulgarity in the film, we have decided to not certify the film

India: Unbanned by the CBFC after 10 minutes of cuts in August 2014

The revising committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) later cleared  Sex Tape, giving it an A certificate. The committee asked the film's distributors to cut around 10 minutes' footage from the film.

Explaining the edits, senior member of the Revising Committee, Nandini Sardesai said:

The two sex scenes-one before the titles roll and the other before the end credits-were uncalled for. Moreover, they were over the top. Frankly even I was embarrassed when I was watching it. Despite the cuts, the film is still very explicit.

Malaysia: Banned in 2014

Wikipedia lists Sex Tape as banned by Malaysia's film censors. It was banned due to strong sexual content

Summary Notes

A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts.

UK: rated 15 uncut for strong sex references, sex, very strong language, drug use

US: Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use.

• 2014 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Sex.Viloence.FamilyValues

Malaysia

• Banned with the comment:

  "Contains strong and obscene language as well as scenes that show obscene actions that is insulting to local cultures".

Singapore:

• Banned in 2012
• Passed R21 after cuts in 2013

The censors deemed one segment in which a Chinese porn director played by Adrian Pang rants against an Indian actor racially offensive. After the scenes in question were deleted the film was allowed to open.

Summary Review: Un.PC

A kindergarten principal finds a series of morbid cartoons drawn by a child. A porn actor struggles to rise to the occasion while filming a romantic cumedy . A middle-aged nightclub bouncer faces off with a rebellious teenage stripper.

A short film that throws political correctness out the window of Singapore mainstream cinema.

Shakespeare Must Die

Thailand: Banned

A new Thai film based on William Shakespeare's, Macbeth , has been banned by censors on the grounds that its content may cause disunity among the people.

The film is the first Thai rendition of Macbeth, a bloodstained tragedy in which a Scottish general, with the help of his insidious wife, assassinates a king to pave his way to the throne.

One of the film's main characters is a dictator named Dear Leader, who resembles former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose ouster in a 2006 coup sparked years of political turmoil between his supporters and critics.

Ing K., the film's director, said the censorship committee objected to anti-monarchy overtones in the film as well as politically charged content, including a scene based on an iconic photo from Bangkok's 1976 student uprising showing a demonstrator being lynched.

Update : 11th June 2014. See  Thailand's toil and trouble over 'divisive' Shakespeare film from  theguardian.com

Shame

See trailer from youtube.com
 

Uncut new release at:

Banned in Singapore:

Steve McQueen withdrew his film after the film censors of the Media Development Authority demanded cuts to a sex scene involving a threesome, and even after the cuts, the MDA imposed a 21 rating.

Controversial in the US:

The film hit the censorship headlines, not because it was cut or banned, but because it was released in the US with an adults only NC-17 rating. This is rare in the US as many cinemas and advertisers refuse adults only films lest they lose their 'family friendly' status.

• UK 2012 Momentum RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• UK 2012 Momentum R2 DVD at UK Amazon

US: Uncut and MPAA NC-17 rated for:

• US 2012 20th Century Fox RA Blu-ray/R1 DVD at US Amazon

Stories of Our Lives

Kenya: Banned in 2014

The Kenya Film Classification banned the film with the comment:

The decision to decline approval to the said film was because the film has obscenity, explicit scenes of sexual activities and it promotes homosexuality which, is contrary to our national norms and values.

Summary Notes

A collection of five vignettes about Kenya's LGBT community.

Stranger by the Lake

• L'inconnu du lac

Lebanon : Banned for:

• 2013 film festival showing

It was banned by the film censor when submitted for the Beirut International Film Festival

Summary Notes

Summertime. A cruising spot for men, tucked away on the shores of a lake. Franck falls in love with Michel. An attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man. Franck knows this, but wants to live out his passion anyway.

A very explicit French gay-themed film. Sometimes it felt a bit overly so - including graphic unsimulated scenes of oral sex and even a shot of a man, erm, climaxing. But I kind of admire the movie at the same time for not shying away from showing anything.

The film stirred controversy in France, two Paris suburbs removed posters for the film that displayed an illustration of two men kissing. Residents complained the image was inappropriate.

Director Alain Guiraudie won the Best Director prize in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes.

• 2013 cinema release

Ten Years

• 10 Years

Hong Kong: Banned apparently by Beijing

See  article from nzherald.co.nz

The film, an anthology of five short stories, each by a different director, has provoked widespread discussion and raised the ire of Beijing, with China's Communist Party newspaper Global Times denouncing the film as absurd.

It was a hit at the box office, earning more than 6 million Hong Kong dollars ($770,000), or more than 10 times its budget. But it abruptly disappeared from cinemas in January after an eight-week run, leading many to wonder whether pressure from Beijing was responsible. Now the only way to see it is at private screenings at universities and community centers, where it's often followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers.

Summary Notes

Five thought-provoking shorts imagine what Hong Kong will be like ten years from now. In Extras, two genial low-level gangsters are hired to stage an attack, but they're mere sacrificial lambs in a political conspiracy. Rebels strive to preserve destroyed homes and objects as specimens in the mesmerizing Season of the End. In Dialect, a taxi driver struggles to adjust after Putonghua displaces Cantonese as Hong Kong's only official language. Following the death of a leading independence activist, an act of self-immolation outside the British consulate triggers questions and protests in the searing yet moving Self-Immolator. In Local Egg, a grocery shop owner worries about his son's youth guard activities and where to buy eggs after Hong Kong's last chicken farm closes down.

To Singapore with Love

In the 1960s and 1970s, Singaporeans, who were activists, student leaders or Communists were exiled from their country. Fifty years later, despite resettling in countries such as the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Thailand, it is clear that the diaspora still holds Singapore and the idea of returning home in their hearts and minds. TO SINGAPORE, WITH LOVE follows the exiled protagonists in the film, as they undertake a trip to Singapore's closest neighbor, Malaysia, where they attend reunions, memorials and stay in a hotel that overlooks their homeland.

Singapore: Banned in September 2014

Announcing its decision to ban the 70-minute film To Singapore, With Love , Singapore's films censors of the Media Development Authority (MDA) claim that its contents:

Undermine national security because legitimate actions of security agencies to protect national security and stability of Singapore are presented in a distorted way as acts that victimised innocent individuals.

The individuals in the film have given distorted and untruthful accounts of how they came to leave Singapore and remain outside Singapore

A Touch of Sin

China: Banned

See article from en.wikipedia.org .

In May 2013 it was announced that the film had been cleared for release in mainland China, a surprise to observers within and outside the country who feared such subject matter was taboo. By December 2013 the film still had not been cleared by censors, and a leaked directive from the Central Propaganda Department instructed media not to conduct interviews, report or comment on the film.

Promotional Material

A brilliant exploration of violence and corruption in contemporary China; (Jon Frosch, The Atlantic), A TOUCH OF SIN was inspired by four shocking (and true) events that forced the world's fastest growing economy into a period of self-examination.

Written and directed by master filmmaker Jia Zhangke (The World, Still Life);one of the best and most important directors in the world; (Richard Brody, The New Yorker), this daring, poetic and grand-scale film focuses on four characters, each living in different provinces, who are driven to violent ends.

An angry miner, enraged by widespread corruption in his village, decides to take justice into his own hands. A rootless migrant discovers the infinite possibilities of owning a firearm. A young receptionist, who dates a married man and works at a local sauna, is pushed beyond her limits by an abusive client. And a young factory worker goes from one discouraging job to the next, only to face increasingly degrading circumstances.

• 2014 Kino Lorber RA Blu-ray at US Amazon
• 2014 Kino Lorber R1 DVD at US Amazon

UK: Passed 15 uncut for:

• 2014 Arrow Films RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Arrow Films R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Unfreedom

India: Banned by the CBFC, March 2015

See article from mumbaimirror.com

The film is the story of a young girl who resists a forced arranged marriage to unite with her lesbian partner. The nudity and lovemaking scenes of the female protagonists, 'outraged' the Indian Board of film censors.

Add to it a parallel story line which revolves around a liberal Muslim kidnapped by a terrorist and the CBFC was up in arms.

Speaking from the US, the director told Mirror, The two stories are juxtaposed and the film challenges the idea of religious fundamentalism and questions its connection with homosexuality which is a biting reality of India.

He added that the film was refused by both the Examining Committee and the Revising Committee. They plainly told me that after watching the film, Hindu and Muslims will start fighting and will ignite unnatural passions. I was aghast as my film is not provocative.

The filmmaker then appealed to the Film Certification Apellate Tribunal (FCAT) but this time too, he was denied a certificate. I'm making an appeal in the High Court now as the Censor Board cannot tell a filmmaker what to make and what not to, said the filmmaker

Summary Notes

In New York arrives a violent and angry man imprisoned by his brutal past, Mohammed Husain. His mission - to kidnap and kill a peaceful Muslim scholar, Fareed Rahmani. On the other side of the world, Leela Singh, a homosexual girl in New Delhi, kidnaps her bisexual lover, Sakhi Taylor. Her mission - to marry her lover and live happily ever after. In a brutal struggle of identities against unfreedom, four characters, in two of the world's largest cities, come face to face with most gruesome acts of torture and violence. The choices they make when they are most cornered in life, expose the blemished reality of contemporary world.

Vishwaroopam

Malaysia:

• Banned.
• Later unbanned after the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the National Censorship Board reviewed the movie. 16 dialogue cuts were required for approval.

Indian:

• Temporary court ban in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• The film was unbanned after cuts were made to appease muslim protests

Sri Lanka:

• Temporary court ban pending censor review

In the UK the film has been passed 12A for cinema release after 11s of category cuts. The BBFC commented:

Company chose to remove two moments of bloody violence in order to obtain a 12A rating. An uncut 15 rating was available.

VISHWAROOPAM is a thriller in the Hindi and Tamil languages about a woman unsuspectingly married to one of India's top secret agents. It is rated 12A for moderate violence.

There are a number of fast-paced fights and shoot-outs. Although there are some heavy blows and bullet impacts, little is shown in terms of injury detail, with the focus instead placed on the spectacular and generally unrealistic fight choreography. For example, in one scene the hero uses a Japanese sword to defeat his attackers, cutting off one of their hands. There is no detail of this but the hand is briefly seen flying through the air.

VISHWAROOPAM also contains infrequent mild bad language and mild sex references. There is also some sight of hard drugs, but this occurs within a clear anti drug context.

Presumably the baddies are muslim terrorists and hence the complaints about negative depictions from the muslim community.

WASP

Lebanon: Banned from film festival in October 2015

Director Philippe Audi-Dor commented:

I am very disappointed that Wasp won't be screening at the renowned Beirut International Film Festival because of its LGBT content. That said, I do understand that the film touches upon a delicate subject, and do respect the censorship bureau's decision.

BBFC Insight about the sex content

A couple are seen having rear entry sex, with close up shots of flesh and facial expressions. There are also strong sex references, with dialogue relating to role-play sex and several frank conversations about sexuality and infidelity.

There is brief natural breast nudity as a woman changes her clothes in the company of another character.

Promotional Material

Having left England for a romantic escapade in the south of France, Olivier and James invite Caroline along at the very last minute. She was just left by her long-time boyfriend and is in need of a change of scenery. The trio arrives in a little Provencal village, somewhat cut off from the world. Though everything seems calm between the pool, sunshine and a village visit, Olivier finds himself more and more intrigued by Caroline. A tension of sexual jealousy and possessiveness will escalade between the three.

• 2015 Matchbox Film R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Weekend

Italy: Banned across much of Italy in cinemas owned by the church. March 2016.

The Catholic Church in Italy has effectively banned Weekend , a movie by British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, by declaring it unfit to be shown in any of the theaters owned by the church.

In an unusual move that prompted accusations of homophobic censorship, the Italian Conference of Bishops' Film Evaluation Commission classified the film as not advised, unusable and scabrous (indecent or salacious). The Commission listed the film's principal themes as drugs and homosexuality.

The result, according to its distributor Teodora Film, was that the film was shunned by the more than 1,100 cinemas which are owned by the Church and make up the bulk of Italy's network of independent/arthouse theatres.

The large number of Italian cinemas owned by the Church are a legacy of the days when every parish had its own cinema and local priests controlled projections, regularly cutting sections of films they deemed unsuitable for parishioners. Most of these cinemas are now rented out to operators who do not have to be religious but do have to sign a contract which includes a clause agreeing to go along with the guidance issued by the bishops.

Summary Notes

On a Friday night after a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club, alone and on the pull. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special. That weekend, in bars and in bedrooms, getting drunk and taking drugs, telling stories and having sex, the two men get to know each other. It is a brief encounter that will resonate throughout their lives. Weekend is both an honest and unapologetic love story between two guys and a film about the universal struggle for an authentic life in all its forms. It is about the search for identity and the importance of making a passionate commitment to your life.

• 2012 Peccadillo Pictures RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2012 Peccadillo Pictures R2 DVD at UK Amazon

The Wolf of Wall Street

Cambodia: Banned

Banned by the Cambodian government citing the film's liberal use of expletives

India : Cut by 6 Minutes

India's films censors have cut 6 minutes from Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street. A source from one of the multiplex chains showing the movie said Indian audiences will be denied visuals of frontal female nudity, intercourse and masturbation as well as the dialogue, All nuns are lesbian . These cuts, amounting to a little over 6 minutes, bring down the movie's running time from 180 minutes to 174 minutes.

Three scenes were cut: a gay orgy, co-star Jonah Hill's public masturbation sequence and the opening scene of the film that features DiCaprio blowing cocaine into a woman's derriere using a straw.

Also, the expression "all nuns are lesbians" was blacked out because of a guideline stating that all religions should be respected.

The Indian release will also include an anti-smoking disclaimer, which is now mandatory for any film that features cigarettes.

Kenya : Banned

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has banned the sale, exhibition and distribution of a Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street.

When contacted, the board's communications office said the film has been restricted due to elements that include nudity, sex, alcohol, drugs and profanity.

Lebanon : One cut

Lebanon was set to take the cut Indian Version. However, the Lebanese distributor relented because of pressure from moviegoers and is only cutting the gay orgy scene.

Malaysia: Self censored:

Cinemas give up without even submitting it to the censor. Exhibitors saw the film, they realised there was no way they could get away with screening it in the country, due to the drugs, nudity, profanity.

Nepal: Banned

The Nepal Censor Board has decided to ban the film completely, forcing local distributors to apologize to their customers who had been waiting to see the movie. The censor chairman Umakanta Parajuli said that the film was banned:

Due to Vulgarity. Nepal is orthodox regarding vulgarity.

Singapore: Cut by 4 minutes and still R21 rated.

Singapore authorities had said they were cutting several scenes, including one featuring DiCaprio having sex with a flight attendant.

Fans are calling for a total boycott of the version of the film cut by 4 minutes by the local censors. Movie goers want to be able to watch the original uncensored version.

The R21 rating restrictions the film to down town cinemas and bans showing it at suburban complexes

UAE: Cut by 45 minutes

Newspapers have reported that movie goers have been walking out of UAE showings after 45 minutes of cuts rendered the movie incomprehensible. UAE film censors say a massively pre-cut version prepared for the whole region may have been slightly less cut if edited for UAE alone.

US: Cut to avoid an NC-17 rating

According to what could just be press hype, it is reported that Scorsese had to trim sex and nudity to prevent the film being slapped with an NC-17.

The film ended up rated R for sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence.

It has been reported that the Theatrical version will become the definitive and that the cuts are unlikely ever to be restored to an Unrated Version or Director's Cut.

Summary Notes

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. DiCaprio plays Belfort, a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 36 months in prison for defrauding investors in a massive 1990s securities scam that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking world, including shoe designer Steve Madden.

• 2014 Universal Pictures UK Steelbook R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Universal Pictures UK R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon
• 2014 Universal Pictures UK R2 DVD at UK Amazon

Yes and Yes

• Da i Da

Actress Agniya Kuznetsova plays an inquisitive girl from the outskirts of Moscow, embarking on a coming-of-age adventure in the city's bohemian art community.

Russia : Banned in July 2014

Russia's new anti-obscenity law, that came into force on 1st July, has forced Vologda's VOICES Film Festival  to pull its screening of Valeria Gai Germanika's Yes and Yes (Da i Da) .

However, the extensive use of strong language means that the film's producers have not been able to obtain a distribution certificate to release the film in Russian cinemas. Under the new legislation, films containing foul language will be banned from general release.