CINEMAGOER COMPLAINS OVER ‘INAPPROPRIATE’ KISS ADVERT
THE suitability of a gay kiss, distressing trailers and the use of the word ‘live’ for an Andre Rieu concert were among complaints to the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) over the past year. Cinemagoers also queried why some films were not given a more restrictive rating with one featuring a decapitation, while complaints were made about a scene from Joker where a character is bludgeoned to death.
The details were released under FOI. One complaint in January caused confusion after a viewer — who had brought their children to see Star Wars — said an advert before the movie began had featured “two different fat couples” kissing.
Director of Film Classification Ger Connolly expressed mystification. “I would be grateful if you could be more specific about why you were taken aback,” he said. The viewer responded: “Just noticed on my autocorrect of word, so fat was incorrect… ad was a gay couple kissing quite passionately.”
They believed in equal rights but thought the advert was a “little inappropriate” for a younger audience.
Mr Connolly said sexual orientation was not a classification issue and the scene as portrayed “would have no bearing on an age classification [being] awarded”.
Only two movies —
Joker and Midsommar — generated more than one complaint with cinemagoers suggesting both should have had a higher age rating.
One viewer said Joker was half-filled with young children and that the film should have been rated 18. They wrote: “Over half of the audience were under 16. Well under 16. One woman even recognised some of the children from her 12-yearold’s class.”
Mr Connolly said he was “very disappointed” to hear about children attending and he would contact the cinema.
One complaint focused on cinemas advertising as ‘live’ events such as Andre Rieu concerts or of plays and ballets. “We do not issue classifications for actual streamed live events,” wrote Mr Connolly.
“However, I can understand how one could very well infer that it might actually be live.”