Singapore Government Bans Films in Low-income Housing Areas
- Artist/Author/Producer:
- Confronting Bodies: Board of Film Censors
- Dates of action: May, 1992
- Location: Singapore
- Description of the Art Work
- "... films rated Resticted (Artistic), well produced films (sic) on the with a strong story and
credible case that do not exploit issues of sex or violence and where
scenes of sex, nudity and violence are relevent to the theme and plot"
may not be shown on the (low cost housing) estates."
- Description of incident
- The Board of Film Censors "... have shocked distributors by banning some films from
low- cost housing areas. About 85% of the country's population, mainly lower-middle and
working class, live in low-cost housing estates, self-contained "new
towns" built by the government, with high rise blocks of apartments,
shops and cinemas. Most of the apartments are owner occupied; retailers
lease their shops... "
About 40 cinemas will be affected. 'It makes no sense,' commented
one distributor. Cinemas in housing estates have not been showing R (A)
films anyway and residents can travel to cities to see them ."
- Results of incident
- Golden Village Entertainment, a film distribution company, "... has
sought a meeting with the chairman of the government-appointed Censorship
Review Committee," who is more powerful than the film censors board, to
ask for an explanation.
The censorship review committeee is to make recomendations to the
government soon."
Source: Mary Lee, Variety,"Singapore Slaps Ban on Racy Pics", May 18, 1992, pg.
41-42
