Director: Banned film attacks racial stereotypes

[BuiKia]

I wonder who were those that the film may have racially insulted? keyword "Porn Masala"

If we are all going to be so racially sensitive, this country is going to be so difficult to live in and it is a matter of time we will have racial riots.

Be honest about the traits of your race and gender, Chinese are known gamblers, Malay are known drug addicts and Indian are known drunkards. All mens are known horny bastard and women are known manipulator.

HOME-GROWN film Sex.Violence.FamilyValues may have been banned, but its producers are not giving up the fight.

They are appealing against the Media Development Authority's (MDA's) decision to ban the film from showing here.

Last Monday, the film was pulled, just days before it was scheduled to open last Thursday.

It was scheduled to run for a week at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

The comedy's original Mature 18 rating was reclassified by the MDA with the Not Allowed For All Rating, following complaints that Porn Masala - one of the three short films that make up the movie - is racially offensive.

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday at The Butter Factory, which financed the film, director-producer Ken Kwek said the producers respect the MDA's right to reclassify their film.

However, they are "disappointed" by the timing of the decision and the assessment that the film is demeaning.

"Far from condoning racism, Sex.Violence.FamilyValues attacks racism, ignorance and all manner of negative sexual, racial and familial stereotypes using the tools of satire and parody," he said, comparing the film to works such as Borat.

The producers of the movie now have until Nov 6 to submit documents to support their case. They are also considering including testimonials from overseas film festivals where the film has been screened.

Under the Films Act, when an appeal is received, the 15-member Films Appeal Committee will hold a meeting to either dismiss the appeal or reverse the decision of the Board of Film Censors. The decision of the committee is final.