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NC16 rating for film on Speakers' Corner protest

See's documentary passed uncut by MDA

Loh Chee Kong
cheekong@mediacorp.com.sg

BOTH documentaries feature Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan. But while one was earlier banned and saw film-maker Martyn See questioned by police, the other film has just been passed uncut.

Yesterday, the Media Development Authority's (MDA's) Board of Film Censors gave an NC16 rating to Speakers Cornered, a 26-minute film documenting a demonstration led by Dr Chee at the Speakers' Corner in September 2006.

The attempted march was timed to coincide with the World Bank/ International Monetary Fund meetings here, and resulted in a three-day standoff between SDP members and the police.

The film had travelled to four film festivals in Malaysia and Taiwan before Mr See decided to submit it to the MDA for classification in December.

He told Today he did so because he "saw no reason why it should not be passed", adding: "The film itself does not make political statements."

Still, he was somewhat "surprised" at the rating, given that the police had questioned him after he made Singapore Rebel, a film based on an interview with Dr Chee and withdrawn from screening in 2005 as it was deemed a party political film.

Last year, another of Mr See's works, on former Internal Security Act detainee Said Zahari, was banned when it was deemed to be against the public interest.

When asked what was the difference between Singapore Rebel and Speakers Cornered, the Board of Film Censors replied: "Party political films are prohibited under the Films Act; there is no change in the legislation."

Mr See, who was behind the video camera, walked up to police officers at the protest and quizzed them on their actions, in the style of controversial American filmmaker Michael Moore.

Asked if the similarities were intended, Mr See said: "In a sense, yes, but in the larger context, my film does not advocate any political line. It was just a straightforward documentation that broadcast journalists do all over the world, all the time."

Under the MDA's regulations, anyone wishing to screen NC16, M18 and R21 films at one-off events has to apply for a temporary licence by furnishing a $10,000 performance bond.

While Mr See would like to screen the film publicly, he was reluctant to pay the bond. Which is why he will wait for licensed exhibitors, such as The Substation and the National Museum, to approach him.

When contacted, the Substation's artistic co-director Audrey Wong said it would welcome Mr See to submit the film for its regular screenings or film festivals.

Said Ms Wong: "We have shown some of Martyn's films before … we have a regular film programme that supports and promotes Singapore films."