Thai Film Board Bans 'Insects In The Backyard'

[webfact]

CENSORSHIP

Film board bans 'Insects in the Backyard'

By The Nation

The Culture Ministry's National Film Board yesterday banned the controversial gay-themed Thai film "Insects in the Backyard".

Of the 21 board members, 13 voted against the movie because they felt it was immoral and pornographic.

Only three members thought it should be approved.

"If the director does not agree with it, he can petition the Administrative Court," said Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat.

And that's what director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit plans to do.

"I was very upset," the director told The Nation.

"Insects in the Backyard" is a drama about a transvestite father, played by Tanwarin, whose teenage daughter and son have a confused sense of their own sexuality, and both enter the sex trade. The movie has vivid depictions of sexual acts. There's also a dream sequence of the son killing his father, which caused a negative reaction from censors.

"The ban is a signal to film-makers that gay-themed films featuring negative portrayals of Thai society will be taboo," said the transvestite director.

Tanwarin was at Government House for yesterday's hearing, but left before the board's announcement to tape a TV show debating the issue.

"During the board's meeting, I got a few phone calls from one lady on the committee trying to convince me to withdraw the appeal after cutting 'obscene' scenes. But she did not mention which scenes," Tanwarin said.

Tanwarin, whose film had previously been rejected by the Censorship Board, was appealing the earlier decision. The director was hoping to release it for a limited theatre run in Bangkok, and aimed to have it rated 20-, which would restrict it to audiences aged 20 and older.

"Insects in the Backyard" was screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival and at last month's World Film Festival of Bangkok.

Anyone found selling copies of the banned film will face a fine of Bt200,000 to Bt1 million, Nipit said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-23

[bangon04]

Getting any movie banned, especially if it is mediocre, is a good way of increasing publicity / sales. Throw in a few gratuitous sex scenes , best at the start of the movie, and insist they are a part of the film's integrity.

Anyone remember "Baise Moi" in France?

What sort of person actually chooses to become a film censor (in any country)?

[asiawatcher]

Just get it overseas into markets where Thai sensibilities are irrelevant. In this land of open sex on every corner, gender confusion and giks, does the censorship board feel they can improve what is life's reality? Clean up your own backyard first.

[Huey]

Whether or not anyone likes trannies or kids that dream of killing their parents is irreliveant. Banning it is as dumb a move as blurring out guns at peoples heads. What next they gonna go to Afghan standards where they blur fully clothed women from the shoulder down???

[Jingthing]

Support the director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit. He is an art film director, not a pornographer. This kind of thing (censorship of art) is shameful in ANY country.

[apetley]

Even made the UK press.....must be a slow news day there

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341458/Thailand-bans-film-transgender-father-entitled-Insects-Backyard.html

[animatic]

Getting any movie banned, especially if it is mediocre, is a good way of increasing publicity / sales. Throw in a few gratuitous sex scenes , best at the start of the movie, and insist they are a part of the film's integrity.

Anyone remember "Baise Moi" in France?

What sort of person actually chooses to become a film censor (in any country)?

Narrow-minded, moralists, with the paternalist desire to 'protect' the common man

from thoughts that the paternalist deems personally repugnant.

Yes he will certainly get international press for the ban as well as the content.

And in Thailand he will make out well on the VCD/DVD underground sales.

Edited December 25, 2010 by animatic