RSS Feed
March 6th, 2013 
David Schulberg the 3rd
Updated
American actor James Franco has slammed the Australian Classification Board’s decision to ban the gay film I Want Your Love.
Travis Mathews’s film about a young gay man in San Francisco was considered by the board to be too explicit in its sex scenes.
The board refused to allow it to be screened at the upcoming Brisbane Queer Film Festival and Melbourne Film Festival, whose organisers have described the decision as an embarrassment for Australia.
That sentiment has been echoed by Franco, who took to YouTube to appeal to the board to reverse its decision.
“I don’t know why in this day and age something like this – a film that’s using sex not for titillation but to talk about being human – is being banned,” the actor said.
“It’s just embarrassing. I hope you’ll reconsider.”
Franco, who has worked with Mathews in the past, says he is disappointed the board has such a conservative view of sex scenes.
“It’s how we create children, it’s how we connect,” he said.
“To keep it away from films that want to explore it as human behaviour is very short-sighted and I think very hypocritical.
“I don’t think we would be having this conversation if he had made a very violent film.”
Mathews has told triple J’s Hack the board’s decision is surprising because the film is wrapping up an otherwise successful festival season overseas.
“Australia is the only country that’s banning the film and it’s the only country where there’s been a discussion of censoring it or banning it,” he said.
Franco, known for his Oscar nominated role in 127 Hours, will next be seen in Oz The Great And Powerful.
Topics:
film-movies,
arts-and-entertainment,
actor,
gays-and-lesbians,
australia,
united-states
First posted
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-05/franco-slams-australias-decision-to-ban-gay-film/4554184
Views: 0
Posted in 
