Luna
09-09-2005, 08:23
Colin Firth's new film Where the Truth Lies will be released with a restricted rating in the US after its director lost an appeal against the decision.
The sexually explicit film was granted an NC-17 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America a month ago.
Director Atom Egoyan made cuts to the film, which includes an orgy scene, in a failed bid to challenge its rating.
Some cinemas in the US refuse to show NC-17 films, which cannot be seen by anyone aged 17 or under.
Firth and co-stars Kevin Bacon and Rachel Blanchard appear in the lengthy orgy scene in the movie, which screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Canadian director Egoyan argued that the scene could not be cut any further without making the plot incomprehensible.
"We couldn't trim any more without destroying the heart of the movie," he said.
"As a parent, I would feel comfortable taking a mature 17-year-old to this movie.
"I feel dismayed they wouldn't now be able to see it in a theatre."
'Redeeming' film
Independent distributor ThinkFilm said it would now release the uncut version seen in Cannes.
"The good news is the film will go out as it was originally intended," said Egoyan.
Where the Truth Lies, which screens next week at the Toronto Film Festival, tells of a 1950s comedy duo implicated in the death of a woman.
"The film is basically about the power of celebrity and the abuse of that power," said Blanchard, who appeared with Egoyan before the MPAA appeals board on Wednesday.
"It's a redeeming film and it has a positive message."
The sexually explicit film was granted an NC-17 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America a month ago.
Director Atom Egoyan made cuts to the film, which includes an orgy scene, in a failed bid to challenge its rating.
Some cinemas in the US refuse to show NC-17 films, which cannot be seen by anyone aged 17 or under.
Firth and co-stars Kevin Bacon and Rachel Blanchard appear in the lengthy orgy scene in the movie, which screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Canadian director Egoyan argued that the scene could not be cut any further without making the plot incomprehensible.
"We couldn't trim any more without destroying the heart of the movie," he said.
"As a parent, I would feel comfortable taking a mature 17-year-old to this movie.
"I feel dismayed they wouldn't now be able to see it in a theatre."
'Redeeming' film
Independent distributor ThinkFilm said it would now release the uncut version seen in Cannes.
"The good news is the film will go out as it was originally intended," said Egoyan.
Where the Truth Lies, which screens next week at the Toronto Film Festival, tells of a 1950s comedy duo implicated in the death of a woman.
"The film is basically about the power of celebrity and the abuse of that power," said Blanchard, who appeared with Egoyan before the MPAA appeals board on Wednesday.
"It's a redeeming film and it has a positive message."