Rape Me passed uncut in France

Those on the look-out for the next big movie controversy would be well advised keep close tabs on the explicit French movie Rape Me, which has just been passed for cinematic release by the French censors. The latest word from those connected with the film is that negotiations are currently underway to distribute the film in the UK at some point later this year.

Rape Me was one of the few genuine talking points at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it was subsequently bought up for distribution in 35 countries, including Italy and Spain. But there had been speculation that the French censors were poised to slap the film with a prohibitive X-rating. In the event, its surprisingly lenient certificate excludes only those viewers under 16. Vincent Maraval, head of the movie's sales agent, Wild Bunch, hailed the decision as a triumph of forward-thinking. "It shows that France is a civilised country," he said. "The censors realise the film is good, that it represents a certain subculture in France and it's aim isn't to excite people like a porn film."

That said, Rape Me boasts some impeccable porn credentials. Taking its title from a song by grunge gods Nirvana, the movie is the feature debut of cult author Virginie Despentes (pictured), who co-directed it with former porn-star Coralie Trinh-Thi. Furthermore, it stars two adult-movie actresses in the lead roles as two wild-child nymphomaniacs on a "sex hunt" through France's seedy underbelly. Viewers who caught Rape Me at Cannes testify that the movie contains scenes of explicit sex and violence.

Rape Me is the latest of a recent crop of French-language pictures to have whipped up controversy in the UK. In the last couple of years there has been the release of nihilistic Seul Contre Tous (which featured genuine porn-movie footage), Sitcom (erect genitalia) and Catherine Breillat's Romance (ditto, plus the hulking presence of porn star Rocco Siffredi). Rape Me has its work cut out if it is to out-shine such illustrious company. But early word suggests that it might just succeed.

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