2. What the BBFC do and how
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally
British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental
organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for
the national classification and censorship of films within the
United Kingdom. The BBFC was established in 1912 as the
British Board of Film Censors by members of the film
industry, who would rather manage their own censorship
than have national or local government do it for them. It
began operating on 1 January 1913.
3. The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and
over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this
lower end of the category range
PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some
scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around
eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive
children.
12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film unaccompanied. The A stands
for
'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied
by an adult (eg someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them. There is also a
‘12’. The 12 is for films on dvd, blue ray…ect. And the 12A is for the cinema.
No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated DVD. 15
rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age.
Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or
buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for children.
4. Case study 1 - Jurassic Park
• A 12 or 15 could not accommodate that as those
certificates would prohibit the admittance of
anybody under those ages. The BBFC opted to
award a PG certificate, but with a warning
attached “contains sequences which may be
particularly disturbing to younger children or
those of a sensitive disposition”.
5. Case Study 2 - Fight Club
•
There was much debate about the film's subject matter – it was seen as a blackly comic
satire of capitalism and consumerism; as an exploration of the loss of male identity in a
feminised society, and as about violence as a way in which the powerless male can
reassert himself against the corporate world he inhabits. Whatever the meaning, the film
presented sequences in which men challenged other men to beat them up, and then
allowed their opponents to do so without any resistance from their ‘victims’, the result being
scenes of strong, and sometimes bloody, violence. While BBFC examiners found the film
stylish and challenging, and some felt an uncut 18 was acceptable for this adult viewing
experience. After extensive consideration, the final decision was taken to require cuts under
the Guidelines of between six and seven seconds to two scenes - both of which, it was felt,
focused on the pleasures of beating the faces of helpless victims to a bloody mess. With
these cuts made, an 18 was given, and an uncut rated R was given in the United States.
6. Case Study 3 • The modern U, PG, 15 and 18 categories were introduced in
1982. However it became apparent that there was a need to
cater for films which sat between PG and 15. So in 1989 the
BBFC introduced the 12 certificate and the first film to be
given this rating was Batman.BBFC examiners found that the
film had a much darker tone than previous incarnations of the
character and considered the Joker as being potentially scary
for young children. The film 痴 tonal qualities with overtones
of horror precluded a PG. But examiners made the case that
a 15 classification would be too high and would prevent
younger teenagers, who would be a natural audience for the
film, from seeing it.
7. Case Study 3 • The modern U, PG, 15 and 18 categories were introduced in
1982. However it became apparent that there was a need to
cater for films which sat between PG and 15. So in 1989 the
BBFC introduced the 12 certificate and the first film to be
given this rating was Batman.BBFC examiners found that the
film had a much darker tone than previous incarnations of the
character and considered the Joker as being potentially scary
for young children. The film 痴 tonal qualities with overtones
of horror precluded a PG. But examiners made the case that
a 15 classification would be too high and would prevent
younger teenagers, who would be a natural audience for the
film, from seeing it.
