From Mr C. Pace
I refer to Mr Portelli’s reply in The Malta Independent On Sunday of 16 September under the above heading.
Once again it is necessary to correct Mr Portelli on various misleading comments he made.
It seems that Mr Portelli is confused about his position on the Board of Film Classification. As a member of the board, Mr Portelli has the right to ban a film, and any form of banning whether in part or in whole is censorship irrelevant of the title the board carries.
Mr Portelli goes on to say that in the last four years one film was banned from our cinemas (so much for not being a censor!) but once again he is incorrect. The film Principles of Lust viewed by classifiers on 4 June 2004 was not banned but withdrawn by KRS. If Mr Portelli insists that the film was banned, I challenge him to provide documentation confirming the banning. Furthermore, Mr Portelli states that “over the same four-year period however not one second was censored in any film”. Can Mr Portelli decide if he is a censor or not? Whether he considers himself a censor or not is irrelevant, as he has no right whatsoever to make cuts in any films.
Mr Portelli claims that I was wrong in equating the local ‘PG’ classification to a ‘12A’ in UK/Ireland and PG-13 in the United States. Maybe it would be wiser for him to carry out proper research before giving interpretations on matters of which he has no knowledge and I suggest that he refers to the BBFC (British Board of Film Classifiers) website for the meaning of the 12A classification in the UK/Ireland, which states the following:
12A – Suitable for 12 years and over. No one younger than 12 can see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
Therefore contrary to what Mr. Portelli states, a 12-year-old in the UK and Ireland does not require adult guidance to enter a cinema for a 12A classified film.
As regards the PG and 12 classifications in Malta Legal Notice 126 of 2000 states as follows:
PG – Parental guidance. Some scenes are unsuitable for young children and the guidance of parents or guardians is deemed necessary.
12 – Suitable only for persons aged 12 years and over.
Therefore once again I insist that a 12A in UK and Ireland is totally equivalent to a PG classification in Malta.
In the US a PG-13 means that anyone under 13 years of age is to be accompanied by an adult or guardian. How Mr Portelli interprets this classification as being stricter than the 12 classification in Malta one wonders, as all children from the age of one to 12, in the US can watch the film if accompanied by an adult – in Malta, from the age of one to 11, they are barred.
Furthermore, as there was a mistake in the publication of my letter of 9 September and corrected in last Sunday’s issue, I need to clarify our position with regard to what Mr Portelli implies on pressures being put on members of the Board, every time a blockbuster comes to the screen, to give it a ‘U’ classification. I agree that the Board is autonomous and that is the way it should be. By exercising our right of appeal it does not mean that KRS is putting pressure of any sort. I reiterate that out of 29 blockbusters and a total of 146 films presented for classification, we appealed only on four but none with the intention of obtaining a ‘U’ classification. This does prove that pressure from our part is inexistent.
Notwithstanding Mr Portelli’s concluding remarks, I do feel it is time that film classification categories are reviewed and that the Board of Film Classifiers in collaboration with all those involved in the film and cinema industry, should put forward proposals to the legislators, to bring us in line with other progressive countries.
Charles Pace
Director
KRS Film Distributors Limited