Empire of the Censors

Topical when it was made (new law, the release of Natural Born Killers), still topical today, when the documentary helps to understand the commotion caused in Britain by the BBFC’s interference in the films I Spit on Your Grave (2010) and A Serbian Film, and its outright ban of Human Centipede II. Censorship is still a sensitive issue in the country, where Mary Whitehouse (a lady convinced that video nasties corrupt the youth, though she admitted that she had not actually seen any) has long passed herself off as the conscience of the nation. Given its scope and effort to take into account every angle of view (critics, censors, artists), Empire of the Censors deals only very briefly with the key films and events and if you’re interested in phenomena like video nasties, I recommend progressing from this guidepost to the more recent documentary Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape. Those who would like tips on provocative British films should watch Flames of Passion: The Other Side of British Cinema (2007), a ninety-minute episode of the television series Arena. (31.10.2011)