Comparison between film regulations of the UK and Vietnam

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1. Administration

UNITED KINGDOM

Its films are administrated by the BBFC, which stands for the British Board of Film Classification - a not-for-profit and independent organization.  

Founded in 1912, the BBFC is responsible for classifying films, television shows, and other bodies of media released in the UK based on their content, providing age ratings and restrictions to guide viewers and protect children from harmful content.'

Website: https://www.bbfc.co.uk/

VIETNAM

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MOCST), and more specifically the Cinematography Department is directly responsible for the regulation of films and other types of media in Vietnam, such as culture, sports, and tourism to name a few.

MOCST was founded on March 15, 1953, and is run by the government from its foundation until now.

Website: http://www.cucdienanh.vn/

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2. Process

UNITED KINGDOM

a) The films are to be submitted to the BBFC for classification, and to be viewed by usually 2 or more BBFC compliance officers, who will review the film and give out guidelines and age rating certificates.

b) The BBFC then works with local authorities and law enforcement to ensure they agree with the classifications made. Films and video works that do not comply with the classification requirements may be removed from distribution or face legal action.

VIETNAM

a) Films are submitted to the Cinema Department, which is the agency under MOCST responsible for film regulation and classification in Vietnam. This includes both international and national films that are to be screened in cinemas, broadcasted on television, or distributed online.

b) They are then reviewed by the National Film Evaluation and Classification Council, a body established by the Cinema Department.

c) After the review, the MOCST will discuss the decision with the submitters. If a film is approved, it is issued a screening certificate with the appropriate age classification. If cuts are required, the certificate is issued after those cuts are made and verified by the council.

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3. Powers

UNITED KINGDOM

The BBFC can refuse to classify a film, and ban it from being legally distributed or streamed in the UK. This is usually done if the content is deemed to violate the Obscene Publications Act 1959, promotes illegal activities, encourages hatred, or poses significant harm to viewers.

The BBFC also conducts research often and public consultations to update its guidelines and reflect public opinion. This allows the BBFC to have the ability to adapt and improve its standards and policies in response to changing attitudes and concerns about media content.

VIETNAM

The MOCST regulates the film industry through the Cinema Department, which includes the classification, censorship, and approval of films for public viewing. It has the power to ban, restrict, or require edits or cuts to films that do not comply with Vietnamese laws, cultural values, or national security concerns.

The films all have to go through a long and strict review until it is approved to be shown to the Vietnamese public.

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4. Age Restrictions

UNITED KINGDOM

U (Universal) – Suitable for all.

PG (Parental Guidance) – General viewing but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

12A/12 – Suitable for 12 years and over. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

15 – Suitable only for 15 years and over.

18 – Suitable only for adults.

R18 – Restricted to adult works with explicit content, available only in licensed places.

VIETNAM

P (Phổ biến rộng rãi) – Suitable for all audiences.

C13 – Suitable for children aged 13 and older.

C16 – Suitable for teenagers aged 16 and older.

C18 – Suitable for adults aged 18 and older.

C (Cấm) – Banned from screening due to content violating Vietnam's laws or social norms.

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5. Restricted Content

UNITED KINGDOM

The film might be restricted due to problems with its content, such as:

Use of offensive or strong language.

Violence.

Contains sexual behavior and nudity.

Drug use and misuse.

Content that may promote unsafe or harmful behavior.

Content that may promote discrimination.

VIETNAM

Films might be restricted due to:

Content Against the Government and National Security

Content that Distorts Historical Facts, such as unnecessary slander against national heroes or historical events

Content that contains explicit content and pornography

Content that promotes violence

Content that contains Horror (may be shown to adults, but can lead to kids being traumatized and scared after watching the film)

Content that contains offensive religious content

Content that contains sensitive political issues

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6. Strengths

UNITED KINGDOM

Strengths of the BBFC:

Provides straightforward and fairly accurate age ratings and content warnings

 Being an independent organization, the BBFC is free from government or industry influence, focusing purely on the opinions of the public.

 It safeguards viewers, especially children, from harmful content by restricting access to unsuitable bodies of media for their age

Provide detailed explanations about their age ratings and classifications for films.

VIETNAM

Strengths of the MOCST:

Provides clear rules and guidelines on what content is approved. This helps the film align with the national values and cultural norms.

Being run by the government ensures MOCST can have the funds needed to operate and not worry about bankruptcy

Fair and consistent ratings and age restrictions of films

Strict review of films that especially discriminate against Vietnam and its culture and history

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7. Weaknesses

UNITED KINGDOM

Weaknesses of the BBFC

It may be subjective due to possible bias from the reviewers

BBFC's guidelines may not always relate to the cultural norms of diverse audiences - from different nations, for example, potentially leading to a lack of cultural sensitivity.

The rise of online streaming platforms and digital content such as YouTube challenges the BBFC in regulating and classifying content effectively outside traditional cinema and home video releases.

VIETNAM

Weaknesses of the MOCST

May be too strict on film regulations and censorship, which may limit creative freedom in media such as film, potentially discouraging innovation for filmmakers.

Slow decision-making due to strict procedures and administrative layers may lead to delays in the classification of projects.

Slow to adapt to changing social norms and evolving media content, potentially making some decisions that need to be updated.

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8. Case Study

UNITED KINGDOM: GET OUT (2017)

"Get Out" directed by Jordan Peele tells us about a black man staying at his girlfriend's family's place when he finds that his girlfriend's family is very racist people, and was acting nice to lure him in - and black people who once entered the premises were to have their brains replaced by the ones of elderly white supremacists, and their bodies having brand new identities after the transplant - those of the elderly white supremacists. The man, Chris Washington, tries to escape the premises despite the odds stacked against him - in which his brain will be replaced.

It was restricted due to scenes of violence and gore. Characters are stabbed, shot at, and gored. There was also 1 scene that involved surgery, which saw the removal of the top of a skull, exposing the brain. Explicit language was also used often in the film, which can also lead to restrictions. Finally, there were also references to sex in the film,  Jeremy Armitage, brother of Chris's girlfriend, makes a reference to murder victims who thought they would only have to "suck a little dick or jiggle some balls".

In the end, the film was given a 15 by the BBFC, a rating that was too low in my opinion. 15 year-olds are still in my opinion not eligible to watch "Get Out" as the scenes can be very uncomfortable, and the language can be unsuitable and inappropriate for their age. An 18 rating would be better, as people that age onwards can handle the disturbing scenes and strong language.

VIETNAM: JOHN WICK 4 (2023)

In John Wick: Chapter 4, John Wick played by Keanu Reeves faces off against The High Table after finding out a strategy of vengeance to defeat them, The High Table is the organization of crime lords who command basically everything in the criminal underworld of the John Wick-verse, and with powerful alliances across the globe, from New York, Paris, Japan, and Berlin just to name a few. Despite the alliance with the "Bowery King" played by Laurence Fishburne proves to be beneficial for Wick. On the other hand, High Table member Vincent Bisset de Gramont is granted unlimited resources to kill him by the organization and will eliminate any person associated with the infamous hitman. 

In Vietnam, the MOCST banned the film from being distributed and streamed across the country, as one of the actors - Donnie Yen who plays an old friend of Wick, supports the creation of the 9-dot line, which is a territory claim by the Chinese government of certain regions of the South China sea.

The film contains scenes of violence including shoot-outs, which often feature the use of hand-to-hand combat, bladed weapons, and people being hit by vehicles. Scenes include occasional blood spurts, mainly from gunshots to the head. Strong language is used in the film a lot - words such as "fuck, shit, or motherfucker". These are things that we see often in the previous films of John Wick as well.

In terms of age rating and classification, which are not stated by the MOCST due to the film being completely banned, the BBFC gives the film a 15 rating (which is too low in my opinion, as the blood spurts, stabbing, and people being rammed by vehicles can be disturbing for younger audiences), and classifies it to contain strong violence and language. 

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