Films with sex attacks could face 18 rating
UNDER-18s could be barred from watching films at the cinema featuring sexual violence following widespread concern that current age ratings are sometimes misjudged. Women’s groups have welcomed news that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is considering the appropriateness of showing rape scenes to those who have not reached adulthood.
For years, some audiences have been horrified by the graphic content they have witnessed in 15-rated films.
But following a public consultation, with scores of viewers offering their opinions, the BBFC said it may place films featuring sexual violence in an over-18 category. If the decision were made, each film would be looked at on an individual basis.
This year, when public panel members were invited to watch the movies In Between, Wind River and Don’t Breathe – all classed as suitable for those aged 15 and over – many said the sexual violence portrayed meant they should be rated 18 instead. Wind River, starring Us actress Elizabeth Olsen, shows the rape of a woman. Palestinian director Maysaloun Hamoud received a huge backlash in her homeland for In Between, which features drugs and lesbian inappropriate
‘Trivialise sexual violence’
ism. Horror movie Don’t Breathe contains scenes of a woman held captive in a basement.
The BBFC’s rethink comes after the #MeToo movement swept the world, with celebrities speaking out about how they have been subjected to or sexually abusive behaviour.
British actress Keira Knightley, 33, earlier this year told of how the female characters ‘nearly always get raped’ in films ‘set in the modern day’.
Earlier this week, the BBFC’s chief executive David Austin told an NsPCC conference the body would reconsider ratings if its continuing research showed viewers were concerned about how sexual violence was classified.
He added: ‘We have 92 per cent approval ratings [for classification decisions] and the reason for that is that we consult the public.’
Yesterday campaign group End Violence Against Women Coalition welcomed the news. Co-director Rachel Krys said: ‘If we can avoid young people being exposed to films which normalise or trivialise sexual violence and victim-blaming, that will help when we are trying to talk to them about healthy sexual relationships.’
A BBFC source said: ‘A general trend was that people seemed to find the fact the scenes occurred within recognisable “real world” settings an aggravating factor, because it made them feel as if this was something that could happen to them.’
The body said it was ‘premature’ to say what changes might be made to the guidelines, which would become clearer when the research is completed in the autumn.