Any film with depiction of actual sex will be classified X which restricts sale and screening. Film festivals can apply for exemptions, that allows for films that have yet to be classified in Australia, but they won’t grant an expemption to a film already (rightly or wrongly) classified X, nor will they grant an exemption if the Director of the OFLC believes the film would have been given an X rating if the film was to be classified. Sex is out, which is even more vexing when you consider that a film festival can age restrict - so patrons watching Damon and Hunter would already have been classified as adults - 18 or over.

Complaining in writing to Des Clark, the Director of OFLC about situations like the one confronting Damon and Hunter is always a good idea, they are compelled to list complaints in their annual report. I’d like them to know that not everyone believes we need to be protected from depictions of sex.

Helen Vnuk’s article in the SMH from 2003 makes good reading - her book Snatched -Sex and Censorship in Australia makes compelling reading too.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/06/1057430073678.html

If a graphic homosexual film was pushed for released in the United States, you’d have an entire stampede of religious fanatics, and a Senate enquiry compared to what you’d have here. I don’t want to be blunt, but the reality is that Janet Jackson’s nipple caused a furor, whereas here something like that wouldn’t offend anyone.

I agree with alwaysrousedgirl - I hope everyone comes to the site to buy it.

Hoping it gets shown,
Linda

Glad you are having some fun in the water. Australia sounds stressful.

But as a worst case scenario, think of this…all those people DON’T get to see the film, but they are DYING to know what all the controversy is about…so they come to your site and they BUY it.

I hope it gets shown, but if not…

It’s some consolation that they’re willing to accept an edited version. The last film that was banned here in Australia was French film Baise Moi.

There’s still a high level of homophobia within government, in Australia. They still have ways to go in terms of legalising same sex relationships in the way England have done, or better yet, legalising same sex marriage like other countries have done. Where it concerns homosexual relationships, we’re in the same boat that America is in, and lately the Australian federal government has been jumping through hoops that the Bush Administration holds up, and this can apply to our government deeming it unnacceptable to accept (legally, in matters of probate, and life insurance) or make homosexual relationships official (in any way or form).

I find it really odd, considering 9 Songs did feature an erect penis numerous times, including a fellatio scene that culminated in the male character’s ejaculation on film. This wasn’t deemed controversial by the OFLC, so I don’t see how a film depicting two males sexually engaging, being any different.

Sorry to hear the OFLC got hold of Damon and Hunter. These are the same people who censored an article on genital surgery in Australian Women’s Forum because the pictures contained “genital detail”.

Australia has no bill of rights which means we have no written document that guarantees our right to free speech. This is why the government banned adult sites from being hosted on Australian servers, it’s why it’s illegal to sell hardcore sex DVDs in most states and it’s why they’ve put the kybosh and D&H.

The stupid thing is that Aussies are very laid back when it comes to sex and porn, more so than Americans, I think. Most people here are OK with the idea that adults should have the right to watch anything they want to watch. There’s a stupid disparity between what people do and what the politicians enforce, but everyone is too lazy or frightened to stand up and make it a political issue. The loud zealots get their way. Unfortunately apathy is what drives censorship in this country.