Vietnam to rate movies screened at theaters

According to a meeting the Vietnam Cinema Department organized in Hanoi on Friday to discuss the promulgation and implementation of a circular to amend regulations on the evaluation and dissemination of films licensed in Vietnam, there would be four levels to rate movies screened in the country.

The four levels include movies for all ages (labeled ‘P’), films restricted to those 13 years of age or older (‘C13’), flicks that are not for people under 16 (‘C16’), and movies for adults only (‘C18’), according to the circular that has been prepared since 2008.

The classification of the movies permitted to be shown at local theaters is based on theme, content and the level of many elements like violence, nudity, sex, drug use, language, and horror.

At the highest level, the ‘C18’ label would be used for films about political, social, psychological, and criminal issues that are only suitable for the cognitive and psychological awareness of viewers aged 18 or older.

This level of censorship allows the films to contain full nudity but they would not be permitted to describe sensitive parts in detail.

Nudity and sexual violence in the ‘C18’ films must be relevant to their content and should not be prolonged or repeated too much, according to the draft circular.

However, the duration of such scenes is still being discussed and will be decided based on specific cases.

In addition, the ‘C18’ movies can show scenes of violence and bloodshed but they must match the context, the legal document reads, adding that vulgar language, swear words or slang that can be considered offensive can also appear in the films.

However, the ‘C18’ films would not include scenes of unnatural sex acts, like those with children and in incestuous relationships, or images encouraging the use of drugs and other addictive substances.

Films with the ‘C16,’ ‘C13,’ and ‘P’ labels would be allowed to feature a much lower level of violence, sex, horror, use of drugs, and obscene language, which are not appropriate for the age ranges.

Particularly, those movies labeled ‘P’ would show no violence, nudity, sex, drug use, and horror.

Ngo Phuong Lan, head of the Vietnam Cinema Department, said the new film classification was modeled after that of Singapore, news website VnExpress reported.

The Singapore film rating system has Asian characteristics compatible with the culture of Vietnam, Lan added.

The department has also referred to the ratings of the U.S., the UK, and Australia to perfect the circular, she said.

The provisional legislation is expected to be promulgated and take effect early next year.