By student journalist Fong Jing Ting
“No one fights like Gaston. Douses lights like Gaston. In a wrestling match, nobody bites like Gaston.”
These lyrics from Beauty and the Beast may seem familiar to many who have grown up watching the fairytale during their childhood days, and when the film was set to be released in Malaysia, many were excited.
Unfortunately, it was not released on the expected date because of the suggestive song lyrics and scenes with sexual innuendoes.
The decision upset all local fans.
No to homosexuality on screens
According to the Film Censorship Board in Malaysia, movies featuring scenes promoting homosexuality are forbidden as Malaysia does not recognise the LGBT ideology.
On the screens, homosexuality scenes are allowed to be portrayed but in a negative light and must be viewed harshly.
A poll conducted on Facebook revealed that 53 per cent of responders did not notice the love bite on Le Fou in Beauty & the Beast until it was mentioned to them while 36 per cent only took notice when they were made aware of it from news reports.
Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) assistant manager Faridzul Ahmad said Disney refused to compromise in censoring the “gay moment” in Beauty & the Beast, resulting in the late screening of the movie which led to losses in sale tickets.
“The movie was only screened on the second week after the scheduled date,” Faridzul said.
Not the first
Beauty & the Beast is not the first movie to be censored by the Film Censorship Board in Malaysia as numerous films produced with scenes involving sensitivities on religion, violence, sex, drugs and brutal scenes have also been censored.
Last year, the Film Censorship Board in Malaysia censored a kissing scene between two male actors in the musical Les Miserables, following complaints from the public where sex between men is illegal.
Challenges in filmmaking
Despite these restrictions, many Malaysian filmmakers continue to challenge and create controversial films.
Local film director, Saw Teong Hin who produced the movie You Mean The World To Me, had one of his scenes censored.
It was a naked scene of a mentally challenged boy.
But, what surprised Saw was that another scene of the boy forcing himself upon his mother was not censored.
The reason being the movie has a P18 rating.
He said he accepts the rating, since the only other outcome was the movie getting banned.
When asked what he thought about Malaysia’s Film Censorship Board placing strict restrictions on films being made, he said that there is a danger of limiting the audiences’ exposure to education and culture.
Referring to his film that was made based on his life, Saw said that too many restrictions could end up changing the facts of a movie being produced and alter the gist of what the producer tries to portray.
“It is important to provide more space to the viewers to open up their minds.
“In some cases, we do not have to go overboard because whether we like it or not, we still have to comply with the censorship rules,” he said.
Local film director Tunku Mona Riza said censorship is only required for scenes that violate certain guidelines set by the Film Censorship Board.
Hence, Riza said film directors have to be aware of the sensitivity of all races and religions in this multiracial country when filming.
She gave a fascinating and educational look at how censorship rules have hindered how filmmakers express their ideas and creativity on screen.
“However, limitation does not mean that directors are unable to achieve their goals. We just have to work around it.
“If I wish to do a film that reflects sensitive issues, it has to be told through metaphors, subtexts or perhaps through the characters portrayed in the film,” Riza said.
When asked on her opinion on the censorship regulations in Malaysia, she said that they should address the issues based on individual films but not blanket the rules for all films.
“If the film has been given a P18 rating, the Film Censorship Board should avoid censoring or cutting the scenes in film,” she said.
She added that as the viewers are already 18, they can make sound decisions.
“However, I am not mocking the censorship rules by any means.
26-year-old media influencer Lucas Phuah said the Film Censorship Board in Malaysia is too sensitive.
Phuah said by Hollywood standards, a love story with no kissing, no nudity or no sex make the movie sounds rather tame.
“They should be open-minded as it is just a movie or a story,” he said.
He added that it is irritating to go to the cinema only to have chunks of scenes cut out from a movie.
Many people like Phuah end up downloading films online.
Commenting on the effects of films being downloaded online, GSC assistant manager Faridzul said many cinemas end up suffering losses and in the case of Beauty & the Beast, GSC had to refund ticket money to its customers when it was first postponed. .
To continue encouraging the production of interesting films according to Malaysia’s Film Censorship guidelines, filmmakers can challenge themselves, which ultimately promotes creativity within the industry.
Fong Jing Ting is a student journalist and is pursuing her 3+0 Bachelor of Communication from University of Southern Queensland Australia at Han Chiang College.
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