What happened to the movies Sugar Daddy & Sugar Baby, Girl from a Thousand Dollars, Lan Kwai Fong?

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has just issued Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL stipulating film classification criteria and implementing the display of film classification and warning levels.

The circular, effective from May 20, requires labeling for theatrical films and warnings for television and online films.

According to the new circular, movies must display the movie classification level, warnings

The Circular consists of 6 articles regulating criteria for classification and implementation of film classification levels and film warnings applied to all forms of film distribution. Regulations on warnings about elements of violence, sex, addictive substances, etc. are notable points of the Circular.

According to the Circular, films must display their film classification level during distribution, except for P-rated films (films allowed to be distributed to viewers of all ages).

Online movies are full of hot and violent scenes.

According to records, before Circular No. 05 was issued, the above content on the YouTube platform was almost left unchecked, with toxic content rampant.

"Lan Kwai Fong" caused controversy when it reflected the lives of prostitutes with the "skimpy" appearance of the cast.

Content about gangsters, with many violent and bloody scenes... but not labeled with warnings for the audience, or attracting views with hot scenes... is the common situation of most online movies in Vietnam.

For example, "Sugar Daddy & Sugar Baby", "Gải Ngàn Đô", "Đải Cáthay", "Lan Quế Phường"... are shocking films with content related to sex, violence, gangsters with many hot scenes, revealing scenes... Notably, these films all attract millions of views per episode.

A typical example is "Lan Kwai Fong", a work that disappointed people because of its superficial script. The actors in the film clearly showed their amateurism, their acting lacked emotion and was stiff. However, these girls were quite bold when performing scenes such as: sitting on the lap, wriggling, touching...

Girls wearing skimpy clothes or thin nightgowns that reveal their bust appear frequently.

While movies shown in theaters are censored according to the Cinema Law, images and content that violate prohibitions must be cut out, clearly classified, and even not distributed - movies shown online contain a lot of offensive content, easy images, and most of them are not classified or labeled with warnings according to the newly issued Cinema Law 2022.

The new circular requires films to display their film rating during distribution, except for P-rated films: Films are allowed to be distributed to viewers of all ages.

Specifically, for films distributed on television and cyberspace, producers and broadcasters must display warning content in writing or speech no later than 3 seconds after the film begins to be distributed; the warning must be displayed immediately below the film classification level icon; displayed a maximum of 33 times during the film distribution process for films with a duration of 20 minutes or more.

Circular No. 05 is expected to be an important legal "stick" to help film managers tighten film management in cyberspace.

Responding to Giao Thong Newspaper , director Huu Tuan expressed: "I support the classification, labeling and censorship of films, including online films. However, to censor a large amount of content on social networking platforms, there should be the support of new technology that can "sweep" all violating content."

Sharing the same view, director Luong Dinh Dung said that legal regulations on film classification and warning are necessary. He said that the regulations of Circular 05 do not limit the creativity of film crews. On the contrary, within appropriate frameworks, creativity has more opportunities to develop.

As someone who has produced online films for many years, director Duong Ngoc Bao admitted that his team also encountered many difficulties in producing and releasing completed or prepared projects when the Circular took effect.

"Usually, we produce according to our partners' orders, exploiting real-life topics, so we cannot avoid dramatic details, thereby conveying a lesson to the audience.

However, when the Circular comes into effect, we still have to comply with the regulations. Certainly, everything will be difficult, requiring higher product quality.

With completed but unreleased projects, we are forced to sit down and discuss to adjust the content and some scenes. In case the two sides do not agree, the project may face the risk of being lost," the male director confided.

More expectations in Circular No. 05

Discussing further about Circular No. 05, director Nguyen Huu Tuan said that this Circular does not have much new content, except for adding classification K: Films are distributed to viewers under 13 years old with the condition of watching with a parent or guardian.

Director Nguyen Huu Tuan

"In my opinion, the instructions in the Circular are no different or more detailed or clear than the 2023 Cinema Law.

To comment on one point in the circular, that is the classification criterion C: Films not allowed to be distributed. I expect that this classification will have a section explaining the criteria for a film to be banned in a clearer and more detailed manner.

The Circular has the role of guiding and specifying the Law. However, in the classification criterion C, this Circular irresponsibly states: "Violating Article 9 of the Cinema Law. Content and behavior are strictly prohibited in cinema activities; Describing film classification criteria at an excessive level".

From a professional perspective, I think Circular No. 05 does not make things better or worse, but there is no scientific development. Of course, I am very disappointed.

For those who are actually working in the industry, we expect a Circular built on the basis of cinema law and dialogue with many parties. There, filmmakers will have a clear view of the legal issues they may face, not a document drafted by people who do not directly make films and do not understand the film industry," director Huu Tuan expressed.

6 types of movies classified by age

1. Category P: films are allowed to be distributed to viewers of all ages;

2. Category K: films are intended for viewers under 13 years of age, provided they are viewed with a parent or guardian;

3. Type T13: films allowed to be distributed to viewers aged 13 and over (13+);

4. Type T16: films allowed to be distributed to viewers aged 16 and over (16+);

5. T18 category: films allowed to be distributed to viewers aged 18 and over (18+);

6. Category C: Films not permitted for distribution.

Source: http://www.baogiaothong.vn/phim-sugar-daddy-sugar-baby-gai-ngan-do-lan-que-phuong-so-phan-ra-sao-d588367.html