The film 'Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist'censored

10/3/99
Censorship Minister Cheryl Edwardes said today she would not allow the controversial film, 'Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist' to be shown in Western Australia.
Mrs Edwardes said the film was proposed to be shown at the REVelation Independent Film Festival in Perth this month.
The Minister determined that the standards of morality and decency generally accepted by reasonable adults had not been met.
The film contained a scene about self genital mutilation.

"While I appreciate the importance of film festivals and the fact that they sometimes screen controversial issues I believe in this instance that some of the film's content overstepped the mark of common decency," the Minister said.
"It has never been my intention to interfere with the national classification process and there has only been one other occasion in 1993 when I acted in relation to the film Salo."
The Minister said the decision was made after discussions with the Director of the Commonwealth Office of Film and Literature Classification and reading information which that office provided on the film's contents.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777