PRAGUE — BelAmi is pulling its latest release, Rebels, from the UK due to mandatory cuts the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) demanded in order to give the film the R18 classification needed to be released in the United Kingdom. Rebels is from BelAmi's twink line, Kinky Angels, that features BelAmi's youngest generation of models.
The source of contention revolves around a scene 45 minutes into the movie, where Jack Harrer is sick and the other 'Kinky Angels' come over to help him get well. First things first, so they decide to take his temperature the old fashioned way; by sticking a thermometer where the sun doesn't shine. Apparently this type of medical attention is not deemed viewable in the UK.
After the BBFC informed BelAmi of the mandatory changes, the studio quickly rejected them.
“This whole affair is so utterly ridiculous it borders on the absurd. The BBFC should begin treating UK viewers as responsible adults rather than children," says Luca Norcen, Head of BelAmi's global DVD operations of the BBFC ruling. "Upon careful evaluation, we feel we cannot go ahead with the proposed cut. It will compromise the integrity of the scene, its unique flavor, and its natural buildup. As far as a thermometer constituting penetration with an object which may cause harm, I find that hard to believe given every mom in the world of a certain age has done it a zillion times with her kids!"
A senior adviser at the BBFC explained that there is potential for harm if someone were to copy the scene using the thermometer due to the fact that glass thermometers are apparently to be avoided as they could break.
Censorship has long been a problem in the UK and this latest example might have some saying that the BBFC are going overboard when trying to keep grown adults from harming themselves.
Rebels, complete with thermometer and all, will be released on April 1 in the US via PULSE and at the end of the month in the EU via Millivres Prowler Group.
