News for
9 Songs (2004)

photos

board

trailer

details

2 articles from 2004

10 December 2004 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

British director Michael Winterbottom has expressed outrage at the decision by the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification to rate his latest movie X18+, roughly equivalent to an NC-17 rating in the U.S. The movie, 9 Songs, includes explicit sex scenes. In a statement quoted by today's (Friday) edition of The Australian, Winterbottom observed: "In 9 Songs, I wanted to explore the relationship between physical and emotional intimacy. How is it possible to do that without trying to honestly show the two characters at their most intimate?" The Australian observed that the X18+ rating effectively bans the film from all movie theaters in Australia.

Permalink | Report a problem

19 October 2004 | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

What Britain's Sky News has described as "the most sexually explicit film ever in British cinema" has been passed by British censors. On Monday the British Board of film Classification gave director Michael Winterbottom's 9 Songs an 18 rating -- allowing moviegoers 18 and older to attend it -- commenting that the numerous sex scenes in it are actually "sensual, not sexual" and that they are "exceptionally justified by context." It concluded: "Some people may find such explicit images shocking or unexpected in a cinema film. The Board is sensitive to public concerns, and its guidelines are based on extensive consultation ... The Board has concluded in this case that adults should be free to choose whether or not to see the film." The film follows a young couple from their first date to their break-up. Their relationship is punctuated by nine concerts that they attend -- hence, the title.

Permalink | Report a problem

2 articles from 2004