PEP: Encantos rated X by MTRCB, show canceled

The film Death in the Land of Encantos has brought honor to the country when it won numerous awards abroad. However, it was hindered from being screened in the Philippines when it got an "X" rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. The MTRCB report on this Lav Diaz film stated: "The scene where the woman was shown in bed naked with her breasts and vagina (genitalia) are exposed is against the rules and regulations of the board - No exhibition of the genitals." Members Amalia Fuentes, Ros Olgado, and Fr. Nick Cruz reviewed the film and gave the "X" rating. PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was able to reach filmmaker Lav Diaz regarding this development and he strongly condemned this action done by the MTRCB. Part of his email reads: "I don't believe in censorship. The existence of the board of censors is very fascistic. Censorship is poison to the arts. Censorship is poison to culture. Censorship is a very feudal act...I will not change anything [in Encantos]. The real struggle is to make good films for our people." Encantos bagged the Special Mention prize in the Orizzonti section of last year's Venice International Film Festival. At the recently concluded Urian Awards, it received the award for Best Production Design. The film that tackles the devastation of the Bicol region by super typhoon Reming in 2006 was supposed to be part of the 3rd .MOV Digital Independent Film Festival held this October. However, the screening was canceled because of the "X" rating given by the MTRCB. Lav Diaz's latest film is Melancholia, which also won in the Orizzonti section of this year's Venice IFF. It will be one of the seven films competing for the Brocka Award in Dekada Cinemanila, which will take place from October 16-29 at Gateway Mall in Cubao. - Philippine Entertainment Portal