AN X rating will be given to “Dear Satan,” a film directed by RC Delos Santos due to its contents according to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
This film, starring Paolo Contis as Satan and Sienna Stevens as Chichi, is said to violate Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1986.
According to MTRCB chair Lala Sotto, the film will be receiving an X rating as it is seen as an attack on a certain race, creed, or religion. She also states that freedom of expression is not absolute, nor is it limitless.
When a film is given an X rating, this means that it is not suitable for public exhibition.
Originally set to premiere in Philippine cinemas on September 18, the story follows a young orphan girl named Chichi, who accidentally writes a letter to Satan instead of Santa, saying that all she wants for Christmas is to meet him and be with him.
While initially, Satan takes Chichi in to teach him her evil ways. Eventually, though, she ends up teaching him how to be good instead.
Sotto has since said that after seeing the film, she felt offended as a Christian.
She stated: “It is not demonic, but it has a different depiction of Satan becoming good. But Satan will never ever be good.”
Since then, Mavx Productions, the company behind the film, has released a statement on this matter. Here, they apologized for any discomfort or offense they may have caused, explaining that it was never their intention to disrespect anyone’s beliefs.
“The concept behind “DEAR SATAN” was conceived with the goal of exploring the theme of good versus evil, showcasing how an innocent child, guided by faith and the goodness of the Lord, can resist temptation and embody the virtues of righteousness,” they added.
“The film is a narrative about the power of faith and the triumph of good over evil. We wanted to illustrate that, despite the presence of evil in the world, faith and virtue can prevail.”
As a result of the backlash received thus far, they have decided to change the title of the film and asked audiences to watch it with an open mind and heart.
Censorship in the PH
Other films with religious content have since been censored, banned, or given an X rating in the Philippines.
Martin Scorcese’s 1988 film “The Last Temptation of Christ,” for example, was – and still is – banned given its alleged anti-religion theme. This film follows Jesus Christ as he deals with various forms of temptation, for example by imagining himself engaging in sexual activity.
Included in the film is a disclaimer that reads: “This film is not based on the Gospels but upon the fictional exploration of the eternal spiritual conflict.”
Another film that was given an X rating – one that caused outrage amongst many Filipinos – was “Alipato at Muog,” which is a documentary that tells the story of Jonas Burgos, an activist who is the older brother of the director, JL Burgos.
The documentary looks at Burgos’s sudden disappearance, presumably taken by alleged members of the military back in 2007.
During the hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Finance, Chairperson Senator Jinggoy Estrada read a post on social media made by Burgos, who stated that this X rating was a manner of censorship.
Sotto, however, defended the decision by saying: “The film tends to undermine the faith and the confidence of the people in their government or duly constituted authorities.”
The film was, however, allowed for screening at the Cinemalaya Film Festival, as well as in academic events. A second review of the film has also been scheduled for tomorrow, September 5.
Some films that have been banned in the Philippines for their political content were “Dear Uncle Sam,” “Orapronobis,” “Butakal: Sugapa sa Laman, and ”Imelda,” among others.
In other countries, you can make films or shows about practically anything and nobody bats an eye. Take for example “South Park,” one of the most popular US shows of all time, which has made fun of religion a number of times.
One episode calls out the growing problem of priests molesting children, and another literally has Jesus and Satan beating each other up in a boxing match.
It is also not an uncommon occurrence for countries to release political films that speak up against the injustice and tyranny of their countries, because it is through this that more and more people are able to open their eyes to the truth.
To say that a political film should be banned because it allegedly “undermines the faith and confidence of people in their government,” perhaps, is no longer the fault of the film.
After all, if there was no injustice to report, there wouldn’t even be a problem in the first place, would there?
