Dual standard in 'Hannibal' release eats at arthouse

Razzini charges gov't panel with 'sexophobia'

By DAVID ROONEY

ROME -- Following protests concerning the unrestricted release of Ridley Scott's thriller, "Hannibal," fledgling arthouse banner Teodora Film has added fuel to the fire by denouncing the double standards of Italy's state censorship commission. Teodora has pointed up a discrepancy between the board's liberal position on screen violence and its rigidly conservative stance on sexual themes.

Case in point is Teodora's Spanish comedy-drama "Krampack," a story of friendship between two sexually curious teenage boys that reaches a crossroads when one reveals his physical desire for the other. Pic was given a mature-audience tag, limiting admission to those 14 and over.

"This is another example of the sexophobia and homophobia that reigns in the censorship commission," said Teodora topper Vieri Razzini. "The board prevents minors from being made aware in any way of sexual diversity, while it clears even the most extreme violence without hesitation."

Boffo bow

Teodora began an exclusive two-screen Italian engagement of "Krampack" on Jan. 31, with an opening-week average per engagement bested only by fellow newcomer "Meet the Parents." In response to complaints from parental associations unleashed by the unrestricted "Hannibal" release, Italian distrib Filmauro advised exhibs to refuse admission to moviegoers under 14. Teodora has taken the opposite approach, appealing to exhibs to ignore the restriction and admit all ages.

Exhibs appear unlikely to go against the censors' ruling -- in the first case, it would mean limiting their admissions without an official veto; in the second, risking fines for disregarding a government rating.