documentary Blog and Journals

Some controversial news this morning, as Variety is reporting that the MPAA has rejected the promotional artwork for Alex Gibney's upcoming documentary on the United States' use of torture, Taxi To The Dark Side. It isn't their rejection that's so controversial as it is their reasoning: It's not suitable for children.

ThinkFilm, the company releasing the film, has already said they're filing an appeal with the MPAA to refute the claims that the poster isn't suitable for children.

I couldn't find a single image still of the poster in a large size, so here's what I've got:


I know, not very big. But it shows two soliders escorting a hooded prisoner, their footsteps turning into the stripes that make up the American flag. So what exactly is so offensive about this poster? Why isn't it suitable for children?

• An MPAA spokesman said: "We treat all films the same. Ads will be seen by all audiences, including children. If the advertising is not suitable for all audiences it will not be approved by the advertising administration."

  According to ThinkFilm distribution prexy Mark Urman, the reason given by the Motion Picture Assn. of America for rejecting the poster is the image of the hood, which the MPAA deemed unacceptable in the context of such horror films as "Saw" and "Hostel." "To think that this is not apples and oranges is outrageous," he said. "The change renders the art illogical, without any power or meaning."

  The MPAA also rejected the one-sheet for Roadside Attractions' 2006 film "The Road to Guantanamo," which featured a hooded prisoner hanging from his handcuffed wrists. At the time, according to Howard Cohen, co-president of Roadside Attractions, the reason given was that the burlap bag over the prisoner's head depicted torture, which was not appropriate for children to see.

  "Not permitting us to use an image of a hooded man that comes from a documentary photograph is censorship, pure and simple," said producer, writer and director Gibney. "Intentional or not, the MPAA's disapproval of the poster is a political act, undermining legitimate criticism of the Bush administration. I agree that the image is offensive; it's also real."

So the MPAA has arbitrarily decided that a child is going to automatically equate a hood with torture. Nevermind that the entire film itself is actually about real torture, as opposed to the torture porn of films like Saw, Hostel, and Captivity. And nevermind that the photo used in this one-sheet is actually based on a real image captured by Shaun Schwarz. (I can't find that original either. Corbis, your website is too confusing.) Fun fact: Schwarz's original image, which doesn't have the soldier on the left, was actually censored by the U.S. military already. CENSORSHIP RULES. CLEARLY.

I'm sure others will eventually make these same points, but I'm just going to spell it out for the MPAA. Why is this poster "not suitable" for children, but you went ahead and approved the following:









These are just a few of the posters approved by the MPAA that I've seen placed in VERY public places. Why are these ok, but the image of a man in a hood in the distance is so objectionable?

The obvious reason for this seems to be the MPAA's willingness to favor the Bush administration. This film is highly critical of our current president and this image, which was nearly censored by the military, is probably not welcomed by those in power. Is it possible that the MPAA was told to reject this poster, even though I can't possibly imagine how anyone would find this offensive?

I wouldn't be surprised.

You can watch the trailer for Taxi To The Dark Side right here. It premieres on January 11, 2008.

EDIT: Thank you, CHUD. Here's a full image: