The 1978 animated film The Waterway terrorized an entire generation. Photo: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
For 45 years he has threatened our children, bringing unbridled horror and trauma to countless young lives. But finally, common sense prevailed – and the 1978 animated film “Waterfall” about talking rabbits was upgraded from U to PG.
In its latest annual report released this week, the British Board of Film Classification noted that the notoriously frustrating cartoon adaptation of Richard Adams' children's novel no longer seems “suitable for everyone” by today's cultural standards. So, due to “moderate violence, threats, brief bloody images and language” – Zero Mostela's seagull telling John Hurt's rabbit to “get pissed off” – her certificate was changed for a recent home entertainment release.
Even staunch opponents of censorship cannot object to this. What we are happy to see and hear for young viewers is subjective, changeable, and the appeals of previous generations should not get stuck. If Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory were re-evaluated today, would it still be able to retain its U-certificate, despite the near-subliminal snapshot of a decapitated chicken on a nightmarish boat ride?
Or what about Star Wars — the 1977 U-rated original — with its glimpse of a bloodied severed alien fly arm and the ash shells of poor old Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru after a storm soldiers devastate their farm? Or take the movie, which the BBFC itself admits shows “an evil man [who] lures and kidnaps children” and “a man [who] tries to kill his wife in various ways.”
That one is crazy too U. But maybe one day the chilling Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang will get the 18th certification it deserves.
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Plato once said that the soul of a nation comes from the souls of its citizens, but I'm increasingly leaning towards the idea that movie rating certificates will work just as well. This is a great way to track how our moral and social mores have changed over the years, and how they change, often insanely, from place to place.
Take the recent Italian drama “Three Floors” by Nanni Moretti. One branch of the plot shows Lucio's married father being seduced by his neighbors' niece, who is later revealed in one nude scene to be only 15 years old, which means she has not yet reached the age of consent. (It should be emphasized that the actress playing the niece was 24 years old.)
As such, the BBFC classified Three Floors as 18 for having a child sexual abuse scene. But the Italian and French classification committees had a different opinion: in both countries, the film was considered suitable for everyone. It's a timeless difference between the UK and mainland Europe: when Adrian Lyne's adaptation of Lolita was released here in 1997, it was – and still is – 18th. In France, however, it was 12 years old: provided that you are the same age as Lolita herself, fais-toi plaisir.
Decisions tend to be made the other way around in the more sexually neurotic United States, where Passages was inundated with a commercially murderous NC-17 certificate earlier this week. This tale of a toxic bisexual love triangle starring Ben Whishaw is blatant enough to earn an 18 from the BBFC. But unlike the British blood red 18 badge, which is usually just a sign that the store is in shock or blood, the NC-17 is considered a badge of such depravity in the US that multiplexes basically refuse to play any movie that features it.
Clips starring Ben Whishaw certified NC-17 in the US
Are there any other films capable of causing general outrage in Britain? Last year, the BBFC was inundated with over 1,500 complaints about a single title, albeit for reasons that had nothing to do with the Board's own work. The reason for the outrage was the historical drama “Heavenly Lady” about the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad: correspondents were outraged that the film was blasphemous and historically unreliable. But fortunately, the BBFC is not a religious tribunal, and as their report succinctly notes, “Filmmakers are free to explore historical or controversial themes and events in their films.”
The most complaints about the actual certification decision relate to the latest Batman film, which received a 15 for “strong menace and violence.” As a result, 22 letters were received, mostly from teenagers who wanted to express their concern about not being allowed to see this.
However, the overall numbers have been steadily declining: only 84 (relevant) complaints in 2022; compared to 109 in 2021 and 149 in 2019, and from two to four hundred a few years before. We just don't get upset about the content of movies anymore – which, of course, that's the way it should be.
But if any of the animators dare to go as far as Watership Down again, I reserve the right to draw a poster.
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