Visions of Ecstasy is a 1989 British short film directed by Nigel Wingrove and starring Louise Downie, Elisha Scott, and Dan Fox. It became the only work to be refused certification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) on the grounds of blasphemy.[1] The film features sexualised scenes of Saint Teresa of Ávila with the body of Jesus on the cross.
As cutting the scenes would remove approximately half of the film's content, the BBFC decided to refuse certification altogether. The board felt that any release of the film could be liable for prosecution under the common law offence of blasphemous libel,[1] making the refusal a form of prior restraint.
The distributor appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. It emerged in 2018 that while the case was pending the Prime Minister, John Major, had considered attempting to derogate from the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights relating to free expression to preempt or override a decision by the court to allow the film's release. This prompted the Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, to point out this was not possible "except in cases of war or threats to the life of the nation".[2] In the end the court found that the UK's blasphemy laws were consistent with the Convention, effectively upholding the BBFC's decision to refuse certification.[3]
A secondary school science teacher was arrested for selling Wingrove's Visions of Ecstasy in February 1992 in Birmingham. Michael Newman, an atheist, then repeated the act of selling the video in public near to Canterbury Cathedral. This led to a debate with the Bishop of Rochester[who?] on BBC Radio Kent.[citation needed] Newman later resigned as a teacher following protests from Christian parents. Newman also made an appearance on Channel Four’s Comment in August 1992.[4]
Eventual release
In 2008 the blasphemy laws in the UK were repealed. In January 2012 the BBFC gave the film an 18 certificate with no cuts or alterations to the original film's content.[5]
^ ab"Visions of Ecstasy gets UK rating after 23 year ban". BBC News. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
^Davies, Caroline; Bowcott, Owen; Greenfield, Patrick (28 December 2018). "Files show John Major's aides viewed emails as passing fad". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^Wingrove v. The United Kingdom, (1997) 24 EHRR 1, [1996] ECHR 17419/90
^Smith, Warren Allen (2000). Who's Who in Hell, A Handbook and International Directory for Humanists, Freethinkers, Naturalists, Rationalists, and Non-Theists. New York: Barricade Books. ISBN1-56980-158-4. arrested under England's blasphemy law for selling the video, "Visions of Ecstasy." He has worked to correct the inequities of the 1988 Education Reform Act, but he had to resign from his school position. As a result, he has been a subject of discussion in the media, including an appearance on Channel Four's "Comment" program https://web.archive.org/web/20130403020310/http://philosopedia.org:80/index.php/N
^"Visions of Ecstasy rated 18 by the BBFC". BBFC. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
Doward, Jamie (6 April 2008). "Rethink over Christ 'porn' film ban". The Observer.
Graham, Ben (30 April 2012). "The Art Of Soundtracking: Steven Severin Interviewed". The Quietus.
March 05, 2023
visions, ecstasy, 1989, british, short, film, directed, nigel, wingrove, starring, louise, downie, elisha, scott, became, only, work, refused, certification, british, board, film, classification, bbfc, grounds, blasphemy, film, features, sexualised, scenes, sa. Visions of Ecstasy is a 1989 British short film directed by Nigel Wingrove and starring Louise Downie Elisha Scott and Dan Fox It became the only work to be refused certification by the British Board of Film Classification BBFC on the grounds of blasphemy 1 The film features sexualised scenes of Saint Teresa of Avila with the body of Jesus on the cross Visions of EcstasyUK DVD coverDirected byNigel WingroveWritten byNigel WingroveProduced byJohn StephensonStarringLouise Downie Elisha Scott Dan FoxCinematographyRicardo CollEdited bySteve GrahamMusic bySteven SeverinRelease date1989 1989 Running time18 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish Contents 1 Ban 1 1 Sale during ban 1 2 Eventual release 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksBan EditAs cutting the scenes would remove approximately half of the film s content the BBFC decided to refuse certification altogether The board felt that any release of the film could be liable for prosecution under the common law offence of blasphemous libel 1 making the refusal a form of prior restraint The distributor appealed to the European Court of Human Rights It emerged in 2018 that while the case was pending the Prime Minister John Major had considered attempting to derogate from the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights relating to free expression to preempt or override a decision by the court to allow the film s release This prompted the Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd to point out this was not possible except in cases of war or threats to the life of the nation 2 In the end the court found that the UK s blasphemy laws were consistent with the Convention effectively upholding the BBFC s decision to refuse certification 3 Sale during ban Edit See also Blasphemy law in the United Kingdom A secondary school science teacher was arrested for selling Wingrove s Visions of Ecstasy in February 1992 in Birmingham Michael Newman an atheist then repeated the act of selling the video in public near to Canterbury Cathedral This led to a debate with the Bishop of Rochester who on BBC Radio Kent citation needed Newman later resigned as a teacher following protests from Christian parents Newman also made an appearance on Channel Four s Comment in August 1992 4 Eventual release Edit In 2008 the blasphemy laws in the UK were repealed In January 2012 the BBFC gave the film an 18 certificate with no cuts or alterations to the original film s content 5 See also EditList of films banned in the United KingdomReferences Edit a b Visions of Ecstasy gets UK rating after 23 year ban BBC News 31 January 2012 Retrieved 31 January 2012 Davies Caroline Bowcott Owen Greenfield Patrick 28 December 2018 Files show John Major s aides viewed emails as passing fad The Guardian Retrieved 28 December 2018 Wingrove v The United Kingdom 1997 24 EHRR 1 1996 ECHR 17419 90 Smith Warren Allen 2000 Who s Who in Hell A Handbook and International Directory for Humanists Freethinkers Naturalists Rationalists and Non Theists New York Barricade Books ISBN 1 56980 158 4 arrested under England s blasphemy law for selling the video Visions of Ecstasy He has worked to correct the inequities of the 1988 Education Reform Act but he had to resign from his school position As a result he has been a subject of discussion in the media including an appearance on Channel Four s Comment program https web archive org web 20130403020310 http philosopedia org 80 index php N Visions of Ecstasy rated 18 by the BBFC BBFC 31 January 2012 Retrieved 14 February 2023 External links EditVisions of Ecstasy at IMDb Doward Jamie 6 April 2008 Rethink over Christ porn film ban The Observer Case Study Visions of Ecstasy Graham Ben 30 April 2012 The Art Of Soundtracking Steven Severin Interviewed The Quietus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Visions of Ecstasy amp oldid 1140634799, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
