12 Years a Slave Case Study

 

 

Key Facts:

• Film: 12 Years a Slave
• Released: 10th January 2014
• Director: Steve McQueen
• Certificate: 15 uncut
• The film has clear historic themes and is based on a true story.
• It was thought that the film would be educational and received in a sensitive manor.

Plot

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Why was it problematic?

• Strong violence, showing slaves being abused and beaten.
• Some scenes show graphic injury resulting from violence.
• Sexual scenes between a man and a slave, it could be implied that it was non-consensual.
• Both male and female nudity.
• Racist terms are used throughout.

What was the conclusion?

• Many of the issues were put aside as they were shown in a sensitive and educational light, which shows the horror of how slaves were treated.

More Facts

• Some viewers walked out of the theater during the film due to the violent scenes causing upset.
• Toronto Film Festival gave the film a standing ovation.
• Some critics accused McQueen of sugarcoating slavery by having a happy ending.
• Some argued that the abuse was just too much.
• Posters caused controversy after Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender appeared to be the focus, rather than the slave actor.

Black Swan Case Study

 

Key Facts:

• Film: Black Swan
• Release: 22 October 2010
• Director: Darren Aronofsky
• Certificate: 15 uncut
• The image of the ballerina was thought to attract a younger audience, despite being classified as a 15.

Plot
A ballet dancer wins the lead in “Swan Lake” and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan – Princess Odette – but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.

Why was it problematic?

• Bulimia was implied throughout the film.
• Self inflicted pain was shown.
• The main character was shown to be pressured into drinking and taking drugs.
• There were long lesbian sex scenes in the film.
• Body image issues were a key theme throughout.

What was the conclusion?

• The film was passed 15 uncut because it was judged that the self harm, alcohol and drug use was shown to have negative effects.
• Sexual scenes were passed because it was thought that most of the sex was implied rather than shown on screen.

More Facts:

• There were no issues with the sex being between two girls, the BBFC treat all sexualities the same. The issue was to do with the length of the scene.
• Self harming, bulimia, drug and alcohol activities are not shown to relieve or comfort the main character, but only to worsen her problems and state of mind.
• The director of the film was well known, attracting a mainstream audience.

The Human Centipede 2 Case Study

Key Facts:

• Film: The Human Centipede 2
• Release: 4th November 2011
• Director: Tom Six
• Certificate: 18 with cuts

Plot

Inspired by the fictional Dr. Heiter, disturbed loner Martin dreams of creating a 12-person centipede and sets out to realize his sick fantasy.

Why was it problematic?

• Extremely strong bloody violence and gore, including mutilation.
• The film dwelled on the infliction of pain and injury for prolonged periods of time.
• Scenes of sexual and sexualised violence including a rape and nudity.
• The film shows a man who has been influenced by the first film, showing an element of realism.

What had to be cut?

• It took 4 months for the BBFC to classify the film, it was eventually given an 18 rating with cuts.
• 32 cuts were made in total to many scenes throughout the film.
• 2 minutes and 37 seconds of cuts were needed in order to grant the film an 18 certificate.
• Nudity and sexual content was cut significantly.
• Scenes that were particularly problematic were cut so that they were less explicit.

More Facts

• The film was shot in black and white, making visuals a little more discrete.
• Without the cuts, it was thought that the film may pose a risk of harm within the terms of the VRA (Video Recordings Act).
• The BBFC did not suggest cuts, as innapropriate material was featured throughout, in fact it was initially rejected by the board. However, cuts were made by the distributors and subsequently it was classified by the BBFC.

The Hunger Games Case Study

Key Facts:

• Film: The Hunger Games
• Release: 23rd March 2012
• Director: Gary Ross
• Certificate: 12A with cuts
• It was important to the producers that The Hunger Games received a 12A certificate in the cinema, as 12-15 year olds made up a sizeable chunk of the target audience, having been likely to have read the books.
• The film was released uncut at 15 on DVD.

Plot

Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to compete.

Why was it problematic?

• Intense threat throughout.
• Moderate violence.
• Occasional gore, including blood splashes, bloodied wounds and blood on weapons.
• Glamorised use of weapons.

What had to be cut?

• Before being submitted to the BBFC, some scenes of violence were cut in order to achieve the film’s desired classification.
• Cuts were made in one scene to reduce the emphasis on blood, injury and pain.
• A lot of the blood was removed digitally from wounds as well as weapons.
• Four scenes showing violence and one scene showing injuries were cut down.
• Certain shots were darkened to reduce visibility and therefore impact.

More Facts

• Despite cuts being made to reach a 12A. Parents took to online forums to argue that the film was still too violent. However, this was only a small minority, the majority of viewers were satisfied with the 12A rating.
• The Daily Mail wrote articles discussing whether or not there were enough cuts made.
• No actual killings were shown on screen, they were only implied.

A Serbian Film Case Study

Key Facts:

• Film: A Serbian Film
• Release: 10th December 2010
• Director: Srdjan Spasojevic
• Certificate: 18 with cuts
• Described by some as being one of the most disturbing films ever released.
• It could not be released in the UK until significant cuts had been made, totaling over 4 minutes.

Plot

An aging porn star agrees to participate in an “art film” in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia themed snuff film.

Why was it problematic?

• There are many scenes of sex, however many contained sexual violence, which was problematic.
• As well as this the violence could have been interpreted at sexualised or titillating.
• Sexual violence involving children.

What needed to be done for its UK release?

• It was very difficult to get A Serbian Film to a place where it could be classified, it took a total of 4 months from the film being submitted to the BBFC, to being available in the UK.
• 49 individual cuts were made across 11 scenes. This was estimated to take away a total of three minutes and 48 seconds from the film.
• Many of these cuts only reduced the length of the scenes, rather than cutting out whole sections completely.
• In order to make logical sense, the film was cut by four minutes and twelve seconds in total.

More Facts

• Rumours had spread and there had to be an agreement made that the would only be shown at the London Fright Fest, if the film had first been classified by the BBFC.
• The BBFC had to try and arrive at a decision for A Serbian Film within nineteen days, putting a lot of pressure on the classification of the film.
• The BBFC received complaints that viewers had been disturbed by the film, whilst other complaints that the film should not have received the amount of cuts it did.

 

The Woman in Black Case Study

Key Facts:

• Film: The Woman in Black
• Release: 10th February 2012
• Director: James Watkins
• Theatrical Certificate: 12A with cuts
• DVD Certificate: 15 uncut
• The BBFC receieved 134 letters of complaint following the theatrical release.
• The soundtrack had to be altered in order to decrease the intensity.
• Film makers wanted it to be 12A to attract a much greater audience because Harry Potter fans were likely to be attracted to the film due to Daniel Radcliffe’s main role.

Plot
The film is about a young lawyer who travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman who is terrorizing the locals.

Why was it problematic?

• There are a number of scenes containing supernatural horror. The ghost threatens the main characters as well as locals. However, this threat is generally moderate, the intense scenes are spaced out with less intense scenes to break them up.
• The ghost of the ‘woman in black’ appears to hang herself from a noose, as well as this three young children are shown jumping out of a window.
• A young girl smashes an oil lamp and subsequently bursts into flames.
• A girl coughs up blood after ingesting caustic soda.
• Repeated references to a young boy drowning in a muddy swamp.
• A mother dies during childbirth, which may be frightening for younger audiences.
• Dated uses of the word ‘harlot’ (prostitute).

What had to be cut for the theatrical release? (12A)

• 6 seconds of “strong violence” and “horror” was cut from the entire film.
• Some scenes had to be darkened which meant some of the scarier scenes and visuals were darker and less noticeable, which reduced the impact for the audience.
• Sound levels were reduced and the soundtrack was altered to be less intense.

More Facts:

• Despite many letters of complaint, 89% of the public supported the 12A rating, with only 11% thinking that it should have received a higher age rating.
• The book had appeared on the national curriculum. The BBFC were aware that if they gave a higher certificate, it would mean that some students did not get to see the adaptation of the film. Whereas the 12A rating would allow for a wider audience and those who studied the book (likely in secondary schools) would be able to view the film.
• The BBFC concluded that once the cuts were made for a 12A, viewers over the age of 12 should find the scary moments thrilling, rather than upsetting.