R15 rating for Aramoana film pleases director

Aramoana mass murderer David Gray, as depicted in a scene from the movie Out of the Blue.

The director of controversial New Zealand film Out of the Blue says he is happy with its R15 classification as it opens the door for the movie to be studied as part of the school curriculum.

Yesterday the Chief Censor announced that the movie had been given the R15 rating, with the note "violence and content that may disturb".

"I'm pleased it's not an R16," said director Robert Sarkies.

"An R15 restriction allows the film in the future to be seen in senior high school classes. Fifteen-year-olds are old enough to comprehend the film."

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Out of the Blue focuses on one of New Zealand's darkest crimes, the 1990 Aramoana massacre.

The tragedy happened in the small coastal settlement, near Dunedin, when long-time resident David Gray killed 13 people, including children, and terrorised residents over 22 hours.

While Mr Sarkies hopes the movie will one day be studied as part of the film studies curriculum, he was "slightly bemused" at its special rating.

An R15 classification is a departure from the usual R16 or R13.

"It suggests the censors had difficulty in deciding what the rating would be," said Mr Sarkies.

Chief Censor Bill Hastings said the film was likely to cause younger viewers distress.

"Children's sense of security relies on the belief that their parents or the police can protect them. The film shows children being killed by a person they know in circumstances where their parents and the police are helpless to defend them."

He consulted families of victims and the Aramoana community before classifying the film because it dealt with recent events involving real people.

"For some of those closely involved in the events it portrays, the film may be upsetting and traumatic. Other people may view it as a sensitive portrayal of the responses of ordinary people to horrific events."

Mr Sarkies said he "didn't make the film intending for children to see it," although he would have reacted more strongly if had been classified R16.

While the 1990 event was unquestionably violent, he said his movie was restrained in its depiction.

"I think it's an interesting precedent to have consulted the people ... the film is about," he said.

The biggest concern was that out of the 14 people who wanted it banned outright, just one had chosen to view the film.

* On Thursday: An exclusive interview with the actor who plays David Gray and our critic's review. Out of the Blue opens at cinemas on October 12.


REACHING OUT

* The Censor's office talked to 30 people from the Aramoana community affected by the 1990 massacre.

* Five more people expressed their views in writing.

* Of the 35 people consulted, 14 wanted the film banned outright.

* A further 17 people wanted age restrictions put on the movie, which ranged from R13 to R18 (10 of these people had seen the film).

- Additional reporting by NZPA

* TimeOut tomorrow includes an interview with the actor who plays David Gray and the Herald critic's review of the film.