| A Serbian Film
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A Serbian Film is a 2010 Serbia adult horror by Srdjan Spasojevic.
With Srdjan
Todorovic and Sergej Trifunovic.
The BBFC cut 4:12s from the UK release. Uncut in the US but there is
also a US version with a minute missing.
Banned in Australia, New Zealand and Norway.
Review: 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.
|
4:12s |
 |
95:20s |
Passed 18 after 49 BBFC cuts totalling 4:12s for:
The BBFC commented:
Cuts required to remove portrayals of children in a
sexualised or abusive context and images of sexual and sexualised violence
which have a tendency to eroticise or endorse the behaviour. Cuts made in
accordance with BBFC Guidelines and policy.
These include cuts to the juxtaposition of images
of children with sexual and sexually violent material. Although the Board
does not regard these images as likely to contravene the Protection of
Children Act 1978, the Guidelines state that intervention is most likely
with, amongst other things, portrayals of children in a sexualised or
abusive context.
See also
BBFC case study
from sbbfc.co.uk
BBFC
Extended Classification
Information:
See article
from bbfc.co.uk:
Srpski
Film - A Serbian Film is a Serbian language drama, subtitled in English. It
tells the story of a retired porn star, Milos, who is lured out of retirement by
an offer of money from a mysterious figure called Vukmir. Vukmir wants Milos to
star in what he describes as an artistic film for the foreign market but
it soon becomes clear the project will require Milos' participation in various
acts of sexual violence and paedophilia. The film was classified 18 for
very strong sexual violence, sex and violence.
The BBFC's Guidelines state that In line
with the consistent findings of the BBFC's public consultations and the
Human Rights Act 1998, at '18 the BBFC's guideline concerns will not
normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose
their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely [...] where material
or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through
their behaviour, to society - for example, any detailed portrayal of
violent or dangerous acts [...] which may cause harm to public health or
morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence
which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault'. More
generally, the Guidelines state that A strict policy on sexual
violence and rape is applied. Content which might eroticise or endorse
sexual violence may require cuts at any classification level and
that intervention, even at the adult level, is more likely with
sexual violence or sexualised violence which endorses or eroticises the
behaviour and with portrayals of children in a sexualised or
abusive context.
Before awarding an 18 classification to
Srpski Film - A Serbian Film, the BBFC required forty-nine
individual cuts, across eleven scenes. A number of cuts were required to
remove elements of sexual violence that tend to eroticise or endorse
sexual violence. Further cuts were required to scenes in which images of
children are intercut with images of adult sexual activity and sexual
violence. It is important to stress that the film makers took
precautions to avoid the exposure of the young actors to the film's most
disturbing scenes and that, in the BBFC's view, no scene is in clear
breach of the Protection of Children Act 1978.
Even after cuts, the film's scenes of very
strong sexual violence remain potentially shocking, distressing or
offensive to some adult viewers, but are also likely to be found
repugnant and to be aversive. They are not credibly likely to encourage
imitation. In some scenes Milos witnesses, or is forced to witness, acts
of sexual violence, including the suggestion that a new born baby is
being raped. In the cut version, the rape of the baby occurs entirely
offscreen, implied only by the sounds of the baby crying and by the
reactions of the onlooking Milos and Vukmir. Although all clear shots of
the baby being raped have been cut by the BBFC, it is worth noting that
the film makers used a prosthetic model during the filming of this scene
and that no real baby was harmed. Later in the film, when Milos refuses
to participate in the acts required of him by Vukmir, he is drugged and
forced to continue filming against his will. As Milos regains
consciousness, he begins to remember what he has been compelled to do,
including decapitating a restrained woman during sex and raping his
unconscious wife and son. He also recalls, with the assistance of video
recordings, some of the acts perpetrated against himself and others
during his period of unconsciousness. This includes one of his female
friends being suffocated with a man's penis, after her teeth have been
extracted, and Milos himself being raped. Once again, the cuts required
by the BBFC have removed the more explicit moments from these scenes and
much of the action is now brief or implied rather than explicitly
depicted. Nonetheless, the scenes remain potentially distressing and
offensive, even in their cut versions. Cuts were also required to remove
shots which imply that children are witnessing sexual violence,
sometimes enthusiastically, or where images of children are intercut
with images of sexual activity and sexual violence. This includes a
scene in which images of a young girl sucking a lolly are intercut with
a scene of fellatio, a scene in which the same young girl appears to
lean forward excitedly as she witnesses a scene of violent fellatio, and
a scene in which Milos' brother is fellated by a woman whilst watching a
family video, featuring his young nephew. All such intercutting has been
removed from these scenes. In another scene, Vukmir attempts to persuade
Milos to have a sex with an underaged girl. Although Milos refuses, cuts
were required to remove shots in which the young girl appears to be
encouraging Milos to have sex with her. In spite of the fact that care
was taken by the film makers to avoid exposing any of the young actors
to anything disturbing, violent or sexual, this juxtaposition of images
of children with sexual and sexually violent material is a breach of
BBFC policy and Guidelines.
The film contains a number of scenes of very
strong bloody violence, including sight of a man's head being repeatedly
smashed with a heavy object until his skull caves in, a man's throat
being torn out in close up, and a man being killed by having a
prosthetic erect penis forced into his empty eye socket. These scenes
considerably exceed the terms of the 15 Guidelines where
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or
injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong
sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.
Srpski Film - A Serbian Film also contains a number of scenes of
strong sex. This includes sight of masturbation, oral sex, group sex,
and sexual thrusting, as well as simulated ejaculation onto a woman's
face. These scenes significantly exceed the terms of the 15
Guidelines where Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong
detail.
Srpski Film - A Serbian Film also
includes very strong visual and verbal sex references, including to
bestiality and paedophilia, very strong language, strong language, and
strong nudity, including sight of prosthetic erections.
Cuts List
See article
from refused-classification.com:
All
cuts are noted as:
Status: Compulsory
Grounds: BBFC Guidelines, BBFC Policy, Video Recordings Act 1984
Issues:
- Portrayal of children in sexualised/abusive context or
- Sexual Violence
- 01:45s. After Marija says to Milos, Haven't we agreed about
putting away your flicks?, remove all sight of the porn film on
television immediately before it's switched off and we see Petar's
reflection.
- 35:15s. After shot of Milos' face, remove entire shot in which
we see Milos being fellated by Laylah while Jeca is seen on two
screens in the background.
- 35:30s. After shot of Milos' face, remove entire shot of Jeca
applying lipstick and licking her lips, whilst the watching Milos is
being fellated.
- 35:30s. After shot of Milos' face, remove entire shot of Jeca
with her mouth wrapped around the ice lolly and sucking it slowly,
whilst the watching Milos is being fellated.
- 35:45s. After the implied ejaculation of Milos into Laylah's
mouth, remove the entire shot of Jeca licking the lolly stick and
wiping the edges of her mouth and then smiling at Milos
mischievously, shrugging, and licking the lolly stick again.
- 38:00s. After shot of Marko being fellated by woman, remove
entire shot of Petar and his family on-screen, the source of Marko's
sexual interest.
- 38:30s. After shot of Marko being fellated by woman and the
dialogue, Come, blow harder. Blow harder, remove entire shot
of Petar and his mother blowing candles on birthday cake.
- 38:30s. After shot of Marko being fellated by woman, remove
entire shot of Petar with Marko and his family as Marko gives Petar
a birthday present.
- 38:45s. After shot of Marko's face, while continued fellatio is
implied below screen, remove entire shot of Petar with his family as
Milos inhales helium from party balloon as the family laugh and
which immediately precedes one of Milos' porn films.
- 44:15s. After sight of Jeca's mother lunging towards Milos'
crotch, remove the close shot of her grabbing Milos' penis, taking
it in her mouth, and biting down on the erect penis.
- 44:15s. After shot of Milos' being held around the neck, remove
shot of Jeca leaning forward and smiling, exhibiting interest in the
sexual violence.
- 44:30s. After shot of man instructing Milos to Hit the whore.
Hit the whore!, remove close shot of Jeca's mother biting on
Milos' erect penis and following shot of Jeca leaning towards the
sexual violence and saying Hit her
- 44:30s. After shot of man instructing Milos to Hit her,
remove shot of Jeca leaning towards the sexual violence and saying
Hit her
- 44:30s. After shots of Milos' punching Jeca's mother in the face
and following close shot of Milos being held around the neck, remove
sight of Jeca leaning forward and smiling at the sexual violence
she's witnessing.
- 45:00s. After close shot of Jeca's mother's face as she's
vigorously masturbating Milos, remove shot which follows directly
and which reveals Jeca smiling at the violence and sex.
- 45:15s. After close shot of Milos being held around the neck, as
we hear Jeca's mother gasping following Milos' ejaculation over her
face, remove shot of Jeca leaning forward and smiling with
satisfaction.
- 47:45s. After close shot on Milos' face, remove entire shot of
man running his hand over, and groping and patting, the naked
bruised buttocks of Jeca's mother in medium close shot, including
pan up her naked body and sight of him lifting her heavily bloodied
battered face.
- 48:30s. After close shot of Milos' face looking down, remove two
shots of him turning the naked woman's body over with his foot,
revealing her shaven genitals and her breasts covered in bruises,
grazes and dried blood.
- 48:45s. After shot on Milos' face, distracted by the voice of
his son calling out, Hit it, dad, tear it, dad, uncle Vukmir is
shooting, remove shot of Milos turning, with his penis in view,
as his son sits in the background encouraging him to commit further
acts of violence against the already bloodied and battered woman.
- 56:00s. After shot of Milos watching the screen, remove entire
shot of man pulling down his underpants with baby held in position
in front of his crotch.
- 56:00s. After shot of Milos watching the screen, remove entire
shot showing the rape of the newborn baby, with sight of man with
underpants partially pulled down as he thrusts into the struggling
newborn baby held in front of his crotch.
- 56:15s. After Vukmir turns to look at the watching Milos, remove
entire shot showing the rape of the newborn baby, with sight of man
with underpants partially pulled down as he thrusts into the newborn
baby held in front of his crotch.
- 58:00s. In rapid montage, remove shot of newborn baby, in
position in front of man's crotch, being raped.
- 58:15s. In rapid montage, remove shot of Jeca sucking ice lolly
intercut with the shots of Milos' face (as he penetrates man's eye
socket) and close shots of female genitals.
- 58:15s. In rapid montage, remove close shot of Jeca's mother
biting down on Milos' erect penis.
- 58:15s. In rapid montage, remove close shot of Jeca's mother
lying naked, bruised and bloodied with breasts exposed.
- 58:30s. In second rapid montage, remove all sight of heavily
bloodied naked female body which appears to be that of the child,
Jeca.
- 63:00s. After Vukmir holds Milos' face, remove sight of naked
and chained mother of Jeca as she's dragged into room and thrown
onto bed with some focus on her genitals and breasts.
- 63:15s. After shot of man locking cuff to edge of bed, remove
medium shot of Jeca's mother with naked buttocks raised towards
camera and legs' pulled apart.
- 63:45s. After shot of a sexually charged Milos lunging towards
Jeca's naked and restrained mother, remove sight of Jeca's mother
naked and lying on the bed with her legs spread and raised to reveal
shadowy shot of exposed genitals, as camera closes in on her
buttocks and genitals.
- 64:00s. After shot of Milos raping Jeca's mother and
accompanying dialogue from Vukmir, Sweet little Jeca watched her
mother fuck the junky bums, remove medium close profile shot of
Jeca's mother being raped with focus on her breasts.
- 64:15s. After shot of Milos thrusting into Jeca's mother from
behind, with focus on Jeca's mother's face and Vukmir's dialogue,
...who conceive babies in lust, remove medium shot of Milos
thrusting into Jeca's naked mother with full body detail as he
continues to hit her; and subsequent shot of Milos' continued raping
as Jeca's mother looks back at him in fear, with breasts prominently
swaying as Milos continues to beat her.
- 64:30s. After shot on Jeca's mother's face and Vukmir's
dialogue, Imagine her turning Petar into a dog-fucker's bitch!,
remove second POV shot of Milos' continued punching of Jeca's
mother's naked back with focus on the heavy bruises which are being
inflicted.
- 65:00s. After shot of blood splattering onto picture on wall,
remove close shots of machete embedded into Jeca's mothers' neck and
blood pumping from the wound.
- 65:00s. After close shot of bloodied head being severed from
heavily bloodied back, and Vukmir's dialogue, The unique magic of
rigor mortis!, remove shot of Milos thrusting into naked and
heavily bloodied rear of the dead woman while holding the machete
against her buttocks.
- 65:15s. After shot of dead woman's torso pumping blood from
neck, remove profile shot of Milos continuing to thrust into dead
woman's heavily bloodied rear while holding the machete against her
buttocks.
- 70:30s. After camcorder shot of teeth lying on the concrete in
pool of blood, remove the close pan up a restrained Laylah's blood
spattered naked body with focus on her bloodied breasts and heavily
bloodied mouth with teeth having been removed.
- 71:15s. After close focus on masked male's face, remove pan down
to Laylah's toothless and bloodied mouth as man positions his erect
penis in front of her face and then forcefully penetrates her mouth
while holding the back of her head in position.
- 71:15s. After Milos continues to look at camcorder image, remove
close shot of erection forced into Laylah's mouth as her head is
firmly held in position.
- 71:30s. After Milos continues to look at camcorder image, remove
close shot of continued deep thrusting of erect penis into Laylah's
bloodied mouth and sight of man pinching her nose so that she is
unable to breath.
- 71:30s. After Milos continues to look at camcorder image, remove
close shot of continued deep thrusting of erect penis into Laylah's
bloodied mouth with accompanying pinching of her nose so that she is
unable to breath.
- 71:45s. After Milos continues to look at camcorder image, remove
close pan in on Laylah's bulging eyes as forced deep throat fellatio
with nose pinching continues until Laylah dies, ending on pan down
her dead body to close focus on her bloodied breasts as blood
dribbles from her mouth onto her chest.
- 74:00s. After close shot of Milos' face, remove focus on Jeca as
camera pans down to her putting her hand on Milos' knee, accompanied
by the dialogue, You'll have the honor of giving her a virgin's
communion. To make her a woman
- 74:30s. After Vukmir encourages Milos to have sex with the child
Jeca, with dialogue urging, Come on, come on..., remove close
shot of Jeca encouraging Milos with her hand on his knee and
trailing this up his thigh towards his groin; and following close
shot on the child smiling at Milos.
- 83:15s. After Milos is lead into the warehouse, remove sight of
Petar's naked buttocks lying exposed next to those of his mother, on
a bed, as camera pans in towards them.
- 84:30s. After shot of Milos thrusting into the fully covered
child's body, remove close shot of Milos' buttocks as he thrusts
into his son while sitting over the child's naked legs.
- 85:00s. After close shot of Milos' face, remove close shot of
Milos' buttocks and scrotum as he thrusts against into his young
son, forcing a mixture of blood and excrement to squirt from the
child's anus and down his thighs.
- 87:00s. After medium long shot of woman staggering into
warehouse, remove close shot of her heavily bloodied crotch and
thighs with metal pipe held next to her bloodied crotch.
- 87:15s. After shot of watching cameraman, remove close shot of
woman's bloodied crotch and thighs, with pipe in her hand dripping
blood, before she collapses to the floor.
Pictorial Cuts:
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