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| Willem Dafoe in Antichrist |
In a decision which has shocked cineastes across France, the Administrative Court of Paris has banned the exhibition or distribution of Lars Von Trier's critically acclaimed 2009 film Antichrist pending it being given a higher age rating. The film was originally approved as suitable for persons aged 16 or over by the Classification Commission and the Minister of Culture, and there is outrage at the idea that a court can overturn this.
The case against the film was brought by Catholic family values group Promouvoir, which campaigns to reduce the amount of sex and violence on French screens. It is partly the relationship between the two which has sparked criticism, with Gaspar Noé, whose film Love was targetted by the group, noting that a lot less fuss is made over guns than over penises, which are generally less dangerous.
Promouvoir has also challenged Fifty Shades Of Grey and Baise-Moi, and last year succeeded in getting a higher rating for Blue Is The Warmest Colour. It has previously taken on Von Trier over Nymphomaniac. There have been hints that the ruling against Antichrist may be appealed.
