Film censorship in the Republic of Ireland

There is little in the way of film censorship in Ireland.^[1]

Ireland's Film Censors Office, renamed in 2008 as the Irish Film Classification Office, heavily cut films and videos for rental release, or placed high age ratings on them. Since the release of Michael Collins in 1996, which was initially rated PG (before being upgraded to 12 for DVD), and despite its depictions of strong violence, the censors office has reduced age ratings in general and rarely cuts films.

Ratings usually match those of the UK, or are one level higher or lower. In 2000 The Cider House Rules received an 18 certificate in Ireland due to its themes of abortion and incest, despite the fact that in UK the film received a 12 certificate. In a similar case in 2008, Frost/Nixon received a PG certificate in Ireland but a 15 certificate in the UK due to four uses of strong language and use of archive war footage.

Film ratings

Eight film rating categories exist, although a film may have been re-rated by the time of its video/DVD release.

Name	Cinema	Video	Consumer advice	Example films
General	Y	Y	Suitable for children of a school going age. Theme - such films will not include themes or content that will upset younger children. Violence - mild and unsustained. There will be an absence of blood or injury detail and any outcome will be reassuring. Sexual content/nudity - very mild (e.g., kissing, dating, references to ‘making love’). In certain circumstances, non-sexual nudity may be acceptable. Language - may include infrequent use of mild bad language and slang. Drugs - forbidden unless clearly set within an educational context.	Toy Story Frozen The Wizard of Oz The Peanuts Movie
Parental Guidance	Y	Y	Suitable for children aged eight and over. Theme - while more mature issues might be addressed (e.g., war, family issues) there will generally be a positive or redemptive resolution. Violence - frightening sequences should not be sustained or graphic. However, some stronger violence may be permissible in what is clearly a fantasy or comic context. Sexual content/nudity - mild; any sexual activity will be implied rather than depicted. Subtle innuendo may be accepted. Language - mild. However, in rare instances, a PG film may contain infrequent strong language provided it is used discreetly and is contextually justified. Discriminatory or racist terms will only be acceptable if used in a clearly educational context. Drugs - any references to drug use should be mild and will relate to soft drug use only. Where stronger references are made they will be set within a clearly educational context.	The Good Dinosaur Back To The Future Magic in the Moonlight The Incredibles
12A	Y	N	Suitable for viewers of twelve and over. However, they can also be seen by younger children - provided they are accompanied by an adult who has deemed the film appropriate viewing for that child. Theme - mature themes are acceptable (crime, bereavement, relationships, etc.) provided they are depicted in a fashion suitable for young teenagers (i.e., in such a way that they will already have been familiar with in their everyday lives). Themes of suicide or self-harm or other imitable behaviour will only be acceptable if depicted without detail and in a clearly educational context. Violence - moderate violence and more prolonged threat/horror are acceptable at 12A. This is particularly the case when depicted in a fantasy context (common at this category). Stronger images of injury detail may be acceptable if justified by the context in which they are presented (i.e., in an accurate depiction of warfare). Sexual content/nudity - sexual content (situations and dialogue) presented without explicit detail may be acceptable at 12A. Brief sexual nudity may also be acceptable. Language - some infrequent strong language may be acceptable, but should be used in a non-aggressive manner. Use of discriminatory language should be justified by the overall context of the film. Drugs - images of or references to soft drugs may be permitted in an appropriate context. Generally, content relating to hard drugs is not acceptable unless there is a clear anti-drug message and the misuse of drugs is not glamorized.	Mockingjay - Part 2 Avengers Assemble Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
12	N	Y	Suitable for viewers of twelve and over. The guidelines for 12 are identical to the guidelines for 12A.	The Lost World: Jurassic Park Tomorrow Never Dies Spider-Man The Golden Child
15A	Y	N	Suitable for viewers of 15 and over. However, they can also be seen by younger children - provided they are accompanied by an adult who has deemed the film appropriate viewing for that child. Theme - most themes/content will be acceptable with classification decided by the way the subject is treated. Violence - this may be realistic but not gratuitous or focus on bloody injury. Strong gory images will only be permitted if justified by the context in which they are presented. We take particular account of the way in which sexual violence is portrayed. Any such content in this category should be discreetly presented and contextually justified. Generally, horror in this category will be psychological in nature. Acts of sadism common to the genre are not permissible. Sexual content/nudity - strong sex references may be acceptable. Scenes of a sexual nature may also be acceptable but will not be explicit or prolonged. Language - strong language is allowed. Frequent or aggressive use of these terms will have to be justified within the context of the piece. Drugs - scenes or dialogue relating to drugs may be acceptable in an appropriate context, but not if there is glamorization, instruction or encouragement as to use.	Mad Max: Fury Road The Dark Knight Black Mass Whiplash
15	N	Y	Suitable for viewers of 15 and over. The guidelines for 15 are identical to the guidelines for 15A.	Gone Girl Saving Private Ryan Die Hard 2 Alien (theatrical cut) Kingsman: The Secret Service
16	Y	N	Suitable for viewers of 16 and over. Theme - most themes/content will be acceptable with classification decided by the way the subject is treated. Violence - this might be intensely depicted and may include some gory imagery. We take particular account of the way in which sexual violence is portrayed. The portrayal of such content in this category should not be explicit and must have clear contextual justification. Strong horror and sustained threat may be acceptable but will not include the strongest images of sadism and torture. Sexual content/nudity - strong sexual themes and content may be permissible provided it is not gratuitous. Language - strong language is acceptable. Drugs - themes and scenes relating to hard drug use might feature. However, any instructional or glamorised drug use, particularly involving teen protagonists, is unlikely to be acceptable. Because there is no direct equivalent on video, a film rated 16 for cinema can get either a 15 or 18 on video.	Inglourious Basterds It Follows The Shining (re-release) Planet Terror The Cabin in the Woods Sausage Party
18	Y	Y	Suitable for viewers of eighteen or over. One of IFCO’s guiding principles is that adults (i.e., persons over 18) should be free, within the law, to choose what they wish to view.	The Terminator Legend Do The Right Thing Fifty Shades of Grey Love Full Metal Jacket

There are 3 former categories no longer in use:

12RA, which cannot be supplied to anyone under the age of 12, and which has a suggestion for a "Responsible Adult" to be present if a younger person watches the film (no longer issued)
12PG, which is the same as today's 12A. First issued in 2001 and renamed 12A in 2005. Pearl Harbor was the first film to be issued with a 12PG certificate.
15PG, which is the same as today's 15A. First issued in 2001 and renamed 15A in 2005.

The G, PG and 18 certifications have the same principles on video, but some 18s films may be denied a video release certificate.

Films which are banned and do not have an appeal lodged, or which fail on appeal, have an enforcement noticed published in Iris Oifigiúil, the state's journal. The most recent enforcement notice, as of 2005, appeared in the 20 September 2005 journal, and was the first of the year. Revocation notices are also published in the journal, where a film has been banned and then allowed. The 2010 DVD release of the 1978 film "I Spit on Your Grave" is the most recent instance of an IFCO ban.^[2]

Legislation

The main legistation under which Irish films are censored are:

The Censorship of Films Act, 1923 was an act "to provide for the official censoring of cinematographic pictures and for other matters connected therewith". It established the office of the Official Censor of Films and a Censorship of Films Appeal Board (see William Magennis) and that no film be exhibited in public without a certificate.
The Censorship of Films Act, 1923 was amended by the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act, 1925, in connection with advertisements for films. It was amended by the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act, 1930 to extend the legislation to "vocal or other sounds" accompanying pictures.
The Emergency Powers Act 1939 dealt with the preservation of the State in time of war and contained provisions relating to the censorship of communications, including mail,^[3] newspapers and periodicals.
The Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1970 allowed films to be resubmitted for certification seven years after being rejected.
The Video Recordings Act, 1989 adds video/DVD recordings to the Film Censor's responsibility to examine. A different classification can be given than the same feature film was give but the censor cannot refuse to grant a certificate for a video if a certificate is in force for the same feature film.

Previously banned films

Many films have been banned in Ireland, including Monty Python's Life of Brian, Fantasia, From Dusk Till Dawn and A Clockwork Orange. A review in 2000 has meant that many of these have since been un-banned and rated anywhere from G to 18. During that review process it was decided that no more films would be banned for either theatre or video release, but some bans are still in place.

The Film Censors Office's official figures state that 2,500 films received theatrical performance bans, and over 11,000 films were cut, between the 1920s and 1980s.^[4]

The most notable recent ban was that of Boy Eats Girl in 2005, a film starring Irish actress Samantha Mumba, due its graphic depiction of a suicide attempt. Following an appeal, it was allowed pass uncut to a 15A rating, far from the highest possible.

Prior to the Video Recordings Act 1989, many films which were banned in the cinema were freely available on video tape to anyone in Ireland regardless of age.

Date	Title	Notes	Post-ban certificate
1931	Monkey Business	was banned because censors feared it would encourage anarchic tendencies - ban lifted 2000^[5]	G
1940	Fantasia	initially cut. Dr. Richard Hayes (who was Film Censor from October 1940 to January 1954) cut the scientific talk which introduces the 'Rite of Spring' section, stating that it 'gave an entirely materialistic view of the origin of life'^[1]^:120 - the cut has since been waived.	G
1942	A Day in Soviet Russia	the documentary was advertised to open on a Sunday but the certificate was withdrawn on Saturday afternoon.^[6]^:170
1943	A Yank in the RAF	certificate withdrawn after one week's run at the Savoy Cinema in September after 41,000 had seen the film.^[6]^:170–175 - ban lifted	G
1943	The Outlaw	^[7]
1945	Mildred Pierce	^[7]
1945	Brief Encounter	initially banned as it was considered too permissive of adultery - ban lifted^[7]	PG
1946	The Big Sleep	^[7] ban lifted	PG
1950	Outrage	^[7]
1967	Ulysses	based on the book by James Joyce – ban lifted September 2000	15
1968	Rocky Road to Dublin	(documentary which, in part, questioned Irish censorship) – ban lifted in 2003
1971	A Clockwork Orange	ban lifted in 2000	18
1979	Monty Python's Life of Brian	banned on 29 April 1980. Passed by the Film Appeal Board on 7 August 1987.	18 (1987)	15 (re-rating)
1982	Porky's	banned on 1 February 1982. Passed by the Film Appeal Board on 19 February 1982.	16 (original cinema rating)	18 (DVD rating)
1983	Monty Python's The Meaning of Life	ban lifted in 1990^[8]	15
1984	Cannibal Holocaust	ban lifted in 2006	18
1987	Personal Services	banned on 13 March 1987. Passed by the Film Appeal Board on 12 May 1987.	18
1989	Meet the Feebles	still banned, as of 2009
1991	Riki-Oh	ban lifted in 2000	18
1994	Natural Born Killers	ban lifted	18
1996	From Dusk till Dawn	initially banned due to its demonic representations such as Salma Hayak's character, Satanico Pandemonium - ban lifted in 2000	18
1999	Romance	still banned
2000	Baise-moi	^[9]
2010	I Spit on Your Grave	The re-release of the 1978 film was banned.^[10]

Exceptions

The restrictions applied to commercial cinemas did not apply to film clubs. The Irish Film Theatre (1977–84), its predecessor, the Irish Film Society and its successor, the Irish Film Institute, specialised for decades in showing arthouse films that were uncut because films shown privately were not required to be examined by the Censor's Office.^[11] The National Film Institute (later Irish Film Institute) had originally been set up to comply with the 1939 encyclical Vigilanti Cura. At one time this gave rise to a legal anomaly where the 35 mm prints of a particular film would to be required to have any "cuts" mandated by the Film Censors Office whereas the 16 mm prints were not, on the erroneous belief that all 16 mm prints were destined for private film clubs. In practice, some commercial cinemas in smaller towns as well as "travelling cinemas" (often showing films in village halls owned by the Catholic Church) were only equipped to show the 16 mm prints. The closure of virtually all of these smaller cinemas (owing to the rising popularity of television and video) has meant that nowadays the only places showing these 16 mm prints are bona fide film clubs.

References

1 2 Rockett, Kevin; Emer Rockett (2004). Irish film censorship : a cultural journey from silent cinema to Internet pornography. Dublin: Four Courts. ISBN 9781851828449.
↑ "Irish censors ban re-release of 1978 horror film". BBC News Northern Ireland. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
↑ "Emergency Powers Act, 1939". Attorney General of Ireland. 3 September 1939. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
↑ "Irish Film Censors' Records". TCD. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
↑ Malone, Aubrey (27 May 2011). "West and the Rest". Censoring Hollywood: Sex and Violence in Film and on the Cutting Room Floor. McFarland & Co Inc. p. 51. ISBN 978-0786464654. Retrieved 3 July 2013. The Marx Brothers 'Monkey Business' was also banned in Ireland in 1931 for fear it would "provoke the Irish to anarchy".
1 2 Quigley, Martin S. (1999). A U.S.Spy in Ireland. Dublin: Marino Books. ISBN 1 86023 095 4.
1 2 3 4 5 Chapman, James (2003). Cinemas of the world: film and society from 1895 to the present (illustrated ed.). Reaktion Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-86189-162-4.
↑ "Banned Films Around the World | BusinessWeek". Images.businessweek.com. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
↑ "10 Films The Irish Censors Hated". What Culture. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
↑ "Re-release of 'I Spit on Your Grave' banned by film body – The Irish Times – Tue, Sep 21, 2010". The Irish Times. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
↑ Flynn, Roderick; Brereton, Patrick (30 July 2007). Historical Dictionary of Irish Cinema. Plymouth: Scarecrow Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-8108-5557-1.

External links

BANNED: 10 controversial films that were banned in Ireland Irish Independent
Film Censorship Cut! Cork Online Law Review 2006
Irish Film Classification Office
Is Irish Film Censorship Too Strict? (1964 vox pop) RTÉ Archives.

Legislation links

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