Schindler's List in Philippines
- Artist/Author/Producer: Steven Spielberg, Director
- Confronting Bodies: Henrietta Mendez, Philippine chief film censor
- Dates of action: 1994
- Location: Philippines
- Description of the Art Work
- The true story of how a WWII era businessman saved hundreds of Jews from
Nazi execution. The film has received critical acclaim internationally.
- Description of incident
- Chief Philippine film censor Henrietta Mendez ordered three cuts on the
film before it would be allowed screening in the Philippines, because the
scenes showed women's breasts and actor Liam Neeson making love to his
screen mistress. As a result of these proposed cuts, director Spielberg
pulled the film from screening in the Philippines.
- Results of incident
- Philippine senators, also protesting the action of Mendez, demanded the
abolition of the censors board, and President Fidel Ramos told reporters
he would look into the controversy. "Such narrow-mindedness precisely
shows the dangers of censorship," said Senate justice committee chairman
Paul Roco. Mendez has refused to back down. "The sex act is sacred and
beautiful and should be done in the privacy of the bedroom," she said.
Source: Chicago Sun Times (Reuters), March 3, 1994
