Censorship: A Cruel Picture

a Multi-Media Case Study in Australian Film Censorship

Author: Robert Cettl
Length: 14 page(s)
Written: July 2011
Sales Rank: -
Views: 1850

An interactive, video-embedded review and censorial history of the first film ever banned in Sweden - Bo Vibenius' classic Thriller: a Cruel Picture (1974: aka They Call Her One Eye).! Multi-media PDF based film scholarship, fully referenced with footnotes and video extracts for critical illustrative review purposes only.

Bo Vibenius was once an assitant to the great Ingmar Bergman: Vibenius' seminal rape-revenge exploitation film Thriller: a Cruel Picture (aka They Call Her One Eye) was praised by uber-brat Quentin Tarantino when it was finally released uncut on DVD in the USA. Internationally, the Synpase DVD release reviewed in the exclusice multi-media e-book was a cause for celebration - the restored, uncut version (with controversial adult content excised from most releases). Australian exploitation fans in particular were beside themselves with glee as the restored footage was always cut from Australian releases (the uncut film wholly banned for nigh on 30 years) and eagerly ordered the DVD online, from overseas retailers. However, as the uncut film was banned in Australia, the Customs Department opened private packages and confiscated the DVD as a prohibited import, seeking to prosecute the importers. Soon, DVD retailers in the USA added warnings on the product description especially for Australian buyers to beware of possible Customs ramifications for any importation of the DVD.

Such is film classification in Australia - what the rest of Western Democracy can obtain through major online retailers like Amazon, the Australian government considers unsuitable for Australian adults and will both ban and, pending the introduction of a mandatory Internet filtering system, block all online information about. That's the irony - all banned films are classified RC (refused classification - yes, Australia is so bureaucratic about its film censorship that it actually has a classification called "refused classification"!) and information about RC material is ordered blocked or taken down at ISP level and details of any website containing RC material exempt from Australia's freedom of information act. All on the grounds of "offense to a reasonable adult". A democracy? Not according to John Stuart Mill!

What is so dangerous to Australian viewers that this Bo Vibenius rape-revenge drama over 30 years old must be banned uncut, confiscated if imported into the country and web information about it blocked and blacklisted in violation of Australia's own freedom of information act?

A case study in Australian film classification and censorship, Censorship: a Cruel Picture examines Australian film censorship law as used to justify cutting and/or banning the film. Balanced with scholarly film analysis, the film Thriller: a Cruel Picture is contextualized for what it reveals about the socio-political, religious and ideological apparatus of Australian film censorship based on the "offense" of sexually explicit material. Contains purchase and downloaad information about where audiences can obtain the full version and own / see for themselves - something Australians are not allowed to do.

Fully interactive, this exclusive e-book release features roll-over graphics, hyperlinks and embedded video containing the scenes that infuriated Australian censors.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Multi-media PDF, contains embedded video (.flv format) and requires Adobe Reader 9 or later to view. The .flv video material will not play on the Apple iPad: Adobe Reader and Flash viewing material is available for Apple users from the Adobe site. Due to a larger file size, allow additional time for download.

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