Director forced to cut incest scenes after Korean rating board ban

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

The South Korean filmmaker has cut and edited 21 scenes that the board ruled too provocative for local audiences, effectively banning the film.

SEOUL -- Kim Ki-duk has cut one minute and 20 seconds of his controversial film Moebius in order to submit it for a retrial by the Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB). The KMRB recently gave the film a “restricted rating,” which amounts to an effective ban in the country, as the rating requires that the film only be shown in "specialty theaters," of which there are no such venues in South Korea. The KMRB is said to have objected to Moebius' direct portrayals of incestuous sexual encounters between a mother and son.

In signed letter released to the press Tuesday, Kim explained that he decided to cut or modify 21 scenes that the KMRB had deemed “too problematic.” The director said he made the changes because he wanted to meet the film's previously scheduled domestic distribution date, slated for September.

Appealing a rating judgment requires a three-month waiting period, and Kim said he did not want to risk receiving a restricted rating again. A retrial of a film that has been edited to meet the board's demands, on the other hand, can take place immediately after the given work has been modified according to the board’s feedback from the initial rating session.

Moebius portrays the destruction of a family as its members give into incestuous sexual desires. The film, much like the director's 3-Iron (2004), proceeds without dialog, and each scene is important, says the director.

“The plotline or expression of the scene might appear obscure, depending on the comprehension level of each audience member. But it is my hope that mature adult viewers would be able to discern the nuance and understand my intentions,” he said.

“As a filmmaker [cutting the scenes] is unfortunate, but in a market environment where major movies dominate theaters, I could not give up on this hard-won opportunity for the film to be released,” Kim said. The director has previously voiced disapproval of how small and independent films are often given little chance in local theaters, as when his Venice Golden Lion-winning Pieta was given a limited run earlier this year.

“I would be able to share the meaning of my film in overseas markets and film festivals, but emerging actors or staff members that took part in the project need the film to be shown in Korea so they can have the opportunity to become better known,” Kim said, adding, “Lee Eun-joo, who gave an impassioned performance in the role of a mother and lover, and Seo Yeong-ju, who plays the son, really deserve to show their work to Korean audiences.”

Kim has other reasons for insisting on the less than favorable means for distribution. His Cannes-winning film Arirang, despite the extensive media coverage it received for the award, never opened in Korean theaters, and yet was widely pirated in the country online.

“I have no choice but to seek domestic distribution for the film even if it means [cutting scenes], because I am afraid the cast and crew would lose their share of the film, like when Arirang was illegally downloaded after someone copied it from an Italian broadcaster,” said the filmmaker.

Kim expressed deep regret about the freedom of artistic expression in Korea: “In the future, films that need to portray scenes that could be problematic will have to seek working with foreign actors and production companies."


Source: Hollywood Reporter, FilmosphereComVideos

Has anyone seen "Pieta"? It was released here in Toronto at the TIFF Bell Lightbox earlier, and I was interested to see it.

Comments

[oonalala.livejournal.com]

Kim Ki-Duk is a genious. 3 Iron is one of my all time favorite films. It's a shame that he's forced to alter his vision for this film. I hope the international release will be the original cut.

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

Yes! to the international release being the original cut. I hope so. These things are such a shame. Just give it the highest rating and let people decide whether they wanna watch it or not; it's not like the topic the movie revolves around is unknown.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I saw Pieta. It was disappointing. I found it mostly generic and predictable which is a shame because I love KKD. Probably didn't help that I'd seen Breathless just a few days before and that's probably one of the best Korean films I've ever seen.

[charlotterhys.livejournal.com]

Kim Ki-duk and 3 Iron was basically my introduction to Korean cinema (nearing a decade ago... yipes), along with Park Chan-wook.

I hope he can include the original cut for DVD sales.

Anyway, this totally sounds like my kind of film. I'll have to try and remember it exists in the future. >.>

[darourie.livejournal.com]

how about Old Boy? It also had incest scene, right? (tough the father didnt know that she's his daughter)
Did they censored the scenes? Since the movie I watched still had it.

[lee-chikin.livejournal.com]

And the villain was kissing his sister in one scene, right? And maybe copping a feel too?

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

seriously?
Just give the movie a high ranting. people will then decide if they want to watch or not.
he shouldn't change his vision just because he's told to...

[yukahoo.livejournal.com]

I was just today wondering what he was up to nowadays...

As for this news, it's unfortunate but knowing him, his style of storytelling and his past problems with the Korean film industry, it's hardly surprising. The only thing that's changed is his attitude to these demands. Re-editing 21 scenes to meet censorship requirements? I would of thought it impossible. But I can see his reasoning and loyalty to his cast and crew. If that really is the reason. It's so hard to know what goes on behind the scenes...

Man, I really loved some of his older works. 3 iron and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring especially come to mind...

[chaincombo.livejournal.com]

http://www.nowvideo.eu/video/ab7d9ad24e14a

[torontok.livejournal.com]

They'd either have heart attacks or start fapping

[ababobaby.livejournal.com]

I read Pieta's summary on wiki... idk if i can take it

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Makes me wonder how they reacted on Old Boy? anyone has detail about that?

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

as the rating requires that the film only be shown in "specialty theaters," of which there are no such venues in South Korea

LOL!

i can't read after this.

[lee-chikin.livejournal.com]

My best friend is a great KKD fan. She'll be disappointed.

Oh this reminds me that I still have to download for her Pietà. Oooops.

[fairchilds.livejournal.com]

I liked Pieta alot. The ending is probably one of the strongest endings to a movie ever. The image, man. It was powerfully acted as well.

[fairchilds.livejournal.com]

and the content of this film feels sort of like a natural progression from Pieta hahaha... which was also about mothers/sons.

[medi183.livejournal.com]

lol i wonder if the movie joon got casted in has to face any rating board ban. i hope not XD

[fogcutter.livejournal.com]

i did a little search about this guy and all the movies he makes are sick and a bunch of nonsense. is being sick and twisted called "art"? whoever like his movies are sick or pretentious morons.