A member of the Film and Publications Board has suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that South Africans use political leaders as symbols for film ratings, similar to an experiment that will be launched in England next week.
The suggestion follows an experiment by a cinema chain to launch a film classification guide based on the personalities of tennis stars like Anna Kournikova and John McEnroe.
The new system will be launched to coincide with the opening of a 12-screen Odeon complex at Wimbledon in London on Monday, and the start of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
According to Ananova.com the different players will be used as guides on film suitability, according to their on-court personalities. And so, for example, sensible boy-next-door Tim Henman would be represented the family orientated U film, while Anna Kournikova takes over the 15 rating.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) describes the 15 rating as having ”no constraints on nudity”.
Venus and Serena Williams replace the PG rating as they are rarely seen without their father, and Andre Agassi represents 12A because he often strips off his shirt at the end of matches.
Australian Leyton Hewitt replaces the 12 certificate and John McEnroe, famed for his on court outbursts, takes over the 18 rating which has ”no constraints on language or horror”.
New symbols using each player’s initials will be displayed, along with the familiar BBFC versions, during a trial period which finishes at the end of the Wimbledon fortnight.
According to the Film and Publications Board member, who wanted to remain anonymous, South Africans could use Nelson Mandela for the A rating, which is for everybody, because the former president ”represented everything that is good”.
His former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela could slot in for the PG rating, which was for everybody except youngsters who require parental guidance. Various other politicians could fit in the 10, 13, 16 and 18 age restrictions, with the X18 porn category possibly reserved for embattled Western Cape politician Peter Marais, currently embroiled in a court battle involving sexual harassment. – Sapa