Blue is the Warmest Colour

Abdellatif Kechiche's award winning drama, Blue Is the Warmest Colour , has been effectively banned in the US state of Idaho.

Carole Skinner, owner of the Flicks theatre in Boise, said the cinema was unable to show the film because its alcohol licence prohibits the screening of movies which feature acts or simulated acts of sexual intercourse, masturbation, sodomy, bestiality, oral copulation, flagellation or any sexual acts which are prohibited by law and any person being touched, caressed or fondled on the breast, buttocks, anus or genitals . Blue is the Warmest Colour, suffice to say, includes pretty much all of the above.

I'm surprised that Idaho gets to see any movies at all beyond Despicable Me 2 .

Update: The film will play in Idaho after all

5th December 2013.  See  article from  blogs.idahostatesman.com

After the media drama, hand wringing and claims that it wouldn't open in Idaho anytime soon, NC-17 movie Blue is the Warmest Color will begin a run at Edwards 9 Cinemas in Downtown Boise on Friday.

Sorry, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. No news here after all. The movie --- a French lesbian coming-of-age drama --- is the sort of art-house film that normally would be shown at The Flicks. But theater owner Carole Skinner does not book films rated NC-17. Why? Because she sells alcohol at her multiplex. Idaho statute prohibits businesses that serve alcohol from showing films with sexually related material or pretty much any view of human naughty bits.

It's a ridiculous, outdated statute. But Idaho theaters aren't required to sell alcohol. Edwards 9 Cinemas, for example, is not handcuffed by the restriction.

The US film censors at the MPAA have rated Blue is the Warmest Colour as NC-17: No one 17 and under admitted. This convoluted way of defining an 18 certificate is a mere recommendation as it is not backed up by US statute.

The recommendation does not legally bind theaters, however, and exhibitors told theWrap that no effective enforcement mechanism exists to make them comply. In the MPAA's official Classification and Ratings Rules, all the sanctions aimed at violators deal with the companies that release films, not the theaters that show them.

Now one major New York theater, the IFC Center, has announced that it will not enforce the NC-17 rating given to Blue Is the Warmest Color , and there is nothing the Motion Picture Association of America can do to make them do it.

John Vanco, senior vice president of the IFC Center, told the New York Times in a statement that the film:

Is not inappropriate for mature, inquiring teenagers who are looking ahead to the emotional challenges and opportunities that adulthood holds. High-school age patrons would be admitted to the movie.

Update: OK for French teens too

24th November 2013. Thanks to Sergio

The film has been awarded a 12 rating in France albeit with a warning to parents.