Visions of Ecstasy
| Visions of Ecstasy | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Nigel Wingrove |
| Written by | Nigel Wingrove |
| Produced by | John Stephenson |
| Starring | Louise Downie Elisha Scott Dan Fox |
| Cinematography | Ricardo Coll |
| Edited by | Steve Graham |
| Music by | Steven Severin |
| Release date | 1989 |
| Running time | 18 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Visions of Ecstasy is a 1989 British short film directed by Nigel Wingrove and starring Louise Downie, Elisha Scott, and Dan Fox. It became the only work to be refused certification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) on the grounds of blasphemy.[1] The film features sexualised scenes of Saint Teresa of Ávila with the body of Jesus on the cross.
Ban
As cutting the scenes would remove approximately half of the film's content, the BBFC decided to refuse certification altogether. The board felt that any release of the film could be liable for prosecution under the common law offence of blasphemous libel,[1] making the refusal a form of prior restraint.
The distributor appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. It emerged in 2018 that while the case was pending the Prime Minister, John Major, had considered attempting to derogate from the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights relating to free expression to preempt or override a decision by the court to allow the film's release. This prompted the Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, to point out this was not possible "except in cases of war or threats to the life of the nation".[2] In the end the court found that the UK's blasphemy laws were consistent with the Convention, effectively upholding the BBFC's decision to refuse certification.[3]
Sale during ban
A secondary school science teacher was arrested for selling Wingrove's Visions of Ecstasy in February 1992 in Birmingham. Michael Newman, an atheist, then repeated the act of selling the video in public near to Canterbury Cathedral. This led to a debate with the Bishop of Rochester on BBC Radio Kent. Newman later resigned as a teacher following a suspension pending a disciplinary after lobbying from a group of Christian Army parents. Newman also made an appearance on Channel Four’s Comment in August 1992.[4]
Eventual release
In 2008 the blasphemy laws in the UK were repealed. In January 2012 the BBFC gave the film an 18 certificate with no cuts or alterations to the original film's content.[5]
See also
- List of films banned in the United Kingdom
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 "Visions of Ecstasy gets UK rating after 23 year ban". BBC News. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- Back to citation Davies, Caroline; Bowcott, Owen; Greenfield, Patrick (28 December 2018). "Files show John Major's aides viewed emails as passing fad". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- Back to citation Wingrove v. The United Kingdom, (1997) 24 EHRR 1, [1996] ECHR 17419/90
- Back to citation Smith, Warren Allen (2000). Who's Who in Hell, A Handbook and International Directory for Humanists, Freethinkers, Naturalists, Rationalists, and Non-Theists. New York: Barricade Books. ISBN 1-56980-158-4. “arrested under England's blasphemy law for selling the video, "Visions of Ecstasy." He has worked to correct the inequities of the 1988 Education Reform Act, but he had to resign from his school position. As a result, he has been a subject of discussion in the media, including an appearance on Channel Four's "Comment" program” https://web.archive.org/web/20130403020310/http://philosopedia.org:80/index.php/N
- Back to citation "Visions of Ecstasy rated 18 by the BBFC". BBFC. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
External links
- Visions of Ecstasy at IMDb
- Doward, Jamie (6 April 2008). "Rethink over Christ 'porn' film ban". The Observer.
- Case Study: Visions of Ecstasy
- Graham, Ben (30 April 2012). "The Art Of Soundtracking: Steven Severin Interviewed". The Quietus.