Cristina Comencini just can’t catch a break with her newest film, Quando la notte – When the night. They heckled and booed it at Venice and now it has been prohibited to everybody under 14 by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (Minister of Culture.)
Kids under 14 would probably not enjoy Quando la notte in the least, but for parents who want to bring them along to the theater be warned: the movie starring Claudia Pandolfi and Filippo Timi has a theme that the Mibac has deemed “too controversial”, that of a mother that is violent toward her child. I guess Crisitina should have known better and remembered that in Italy, one doesn’t mess around with “La Mamma”.
Said the Mibac: The violence of the mother for her child is disturbing, because it deals with a normal mother that, because of stress, becomes violent against her son even though she doesn’t want to. This will be upsetting to children under 14.
Comencini’s reaction: “It’s an unacceptable decision, hiding the reality of the feelings of a mother toward her children. The use of “normal” is an offense to all women. The film is important for children who will one day be parents.”
Hey, I didn’t even know that Italy had a rating system, so this is doubly surprising to me:
- T: All ages admitted. The mark is a circle with a huge T inside on a green background.
- V.M.14: Nobody under the age of 14 years is allowed, parental guidance is strongly advised. The movie is likely to contain either sexual content, violence and some drug use. The mark is a circle with a14 inside on an orange background.
- V.M.18: Nobody under the age of 18 years is allowed, for older audiences only. The movie is likely to contain very explicit and strong sexual content, strong and/or extreme violence and gore or really explicit drug use. The mark is a circle with an 18 inside on a red or bordeaux background.
I Love Italian Everything 