MovieChat Forums > Ma vie en rose (1997) Discussion > The R Rating

The R Rating

posted 17 years ago by Prince_BrandonJ
19 replies | jump to latest

So what do you guys think was the rationale for the R rating of this film? There was almost no strong language that I can think of and almost no violence. Perhaps the only instance I can think of was the mother going a little crazy on Ludo towards the end but that’s it, and even that would have been acceptable in a PG movie. This film was not graphic in any way.

The only thing I can think of is that someone at the MPAA felt the themes of this movie, such as the social construction of our binary gender system, were too difficult for a younger audience to understand. Perhaps someone up there felt threatened that if a young person were to see this movie it might influence them into thinking it was ok to step outside their gender role? People in this country get really uncomfortable when anyone violates gender norms, as this movie showed, and particularly when it’s males. Notice the character of Christine didn’t seem nearly as out of place as Ludo does. Seems more like whoever was rating this movie did so using their own personal belief system and not legitimate criteria. I can’t think of anything else that someone would want to protect their child from.

Additionally I can only see good things coming from a young person seeing this movie who might be in a similar position, if for no other reason then that they will know that they are not alone and they are not the only person who experiences this.

What do you guys think the rationale for the rating was?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] spinmkcf 17 years ago

I definitely think you're right on a couple of points. I don't know if you've seen This Movie Is Not Yet Rated, but I think you might find it interesting. I was fascinated by the movie, particularly the double standards that the MPAA seems to have when it comes to homosexual themes.

I loved Ma Vie En Rose, but I'm a little confused. Are we certain that Ludovic is gay?
In my opinion, there's no way for us to tell based on the information we are given. In fact, I think all signs indicate that Ludovic may be transgender, not necessarily homosexual. I think this idea is actually reinforced throughout the movie. For example, Ludovic only wants to marry his friend after he becomes a girl.

Thoughts?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] stuyfan 17 years ago

agree, he's a transsexual, not nessesarily gay, they're not the same thing. That was probably was the only thing that bothered me in this movie, although im sure transvestites often get mistaken for gay.

so yes, agree, he' not nessesarily gay, he thinks he's a girl, if he is, than he is straight (in a way.) that came out oddly, but i think u get the picture. Anyway, Love the movie

[–] bettierools 17 years ago

yeah, the R rating seems extreme. there was a bit of cursing though and some sexual references, which maybe would make it, like, pg-13? that's all i can really think of though

[–] xPrettyInPunkx06 17 years ago

Ludo is transgendered and he is not gay. If he were to have the chance to be a girl and live as a girl and all that, he would be a straight woman. He is attracted to men, but his gender, what is inside, which is what counts and makes us who we are, not the sex, is female so he is not gay. He'd be straight.

"Sell crazy some place else. We're all stocked up here." AGAIG
Proud Member of the J.D. Cult

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Nekrophagia 14 years ago

spinmkef:

Thanks for bringing up This Film is Not Yet Rated. I hope more and more people see that and start to understand what a complete joke the ratings board is.

Films like this, The Fall and others are punished by an organization that makes up their rules as they go along.

Independent films... punished
LGBT films... punished
Anything they don't quite understand or approve of... punished

But...

MAJOR STUDIOS... What can we do to serve you?

"the double standards that the MPAA seems to have"

There's no "seems" to it.

[–] mulhollandpsycho 13 years ago

That documentary was brilliant, and it brought up many valid points regarding American cinema and acceptance of alternate sexualities.

For instance: rape? perfectly fine. blow a woman's head off with a gun? the more the better. sodomy? nooooooooooooo *beep* NO!

Woman s**k a guy off? outstanding! woman eat out a woman? um.... woman do the aforementioned & wipe her lip? AHHHHGHGHRGHH!!

As for Ma Vie En Rose, this film is more relevant than ever right now, given the current situation of LGBT youth committing suicide at alarming rates. (Unless they've been doing it all along & there were no more bedbugs & rabid beach sharks for the media to cover.) If Justin Beiber ever put on a dress & hung himself from a shower curtain, Jesus Christ, their cup spilleth over.

[–] nottidicabiria-1 16 years ago

i saw this movie when i was 9 years old. I don't think there was anything in it to 'disturb' me, & understood it well even

[–] generalsmuts 16 years ago

Yeah, I saw it when I was about 11 or 12 I think. I remember loving it.

[–] virgo96833 16 years ago

in one word: transgenderphobia. despite the fact that the movie was pretty clean, giving the film a pg or even pg-13 rating (the rating that it truly deserved) would imply that the movie is somewhat family friendly. unfortunately, in today's society, most adults don't want to expose their children to "transgendered ideas". maybe if this film was released 30 years in the future, it would have gotten a better rating.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] hellrider1982 14 years ago

I can only speak for myself, but as a male-to-female transgender, I've always seen myself as a gay girl. From as young as I can remember, I've been attracted to females, and considered myself one. The most logical way to see it is that character in this film is a straight girl in a boys body.

Alas, society pigeonholes us all and so many do have issues with transgender being called our correct gender >.>

[–] Angelus4U 14 years ago

Very strange that it's Rated-R in the States. Over here (The Netherlands) it got a AL rating (All Ages), just like the American G-rating. I guess in The States sexuality is much more suppressed and a taboo than on the other side of the ocean. What's new...

[–] daybreaq 13 years ago

I was looking for more information on this film having seen it on TV some time ago and I read about the R rating controversy. I'm not certain this film is for all children; but not because I'm against exposing children to a film about a transgendered child. (I have also read not everyone interprets that Ludo is transgendered. My interpretation is that she is transgendered. For whatever it's worth, I have seen quotes from the director that refers to Ludo as "she" as well so I also interpret that to mean that the film's director also believes Ludo is transgendered.)

The thing that I feel makes "Ma Vie En Rose" inappropriate for *some* children is the fact that Ludo's parents are quite abusive at times, both emotionally and physically. And yes, while it's quite sadly realistic that parents who wouldn't normally be abusive might be abusive to their transgendered child; it is a hard reality that all children might not be ready to see particularly if the parent is expecting a "gentle" film about it being ok to be different because I have read the film described as such mainly by those who protest the R rating. "Ma Vie en Rose" is a truly terrific film; but it is in no way "gentle." On the contrary, it portrays a child perceived as different treated harshly even and especially by the people who are supposed to love her most.

I'm not saying children shouldn't see this film just that it should be with parental supervision and with the parent knowing what to expect beforehand. A parent needs to be prepared to have the discussion on why Ludo's mommy and daddy hit and yell at her and that, yes, mommies and daddies can be very wrong too.

That said, I am pretty certain there are many films that contain child abuse that do not have an R rating. Some are even considered children's films. "Matilda" comes immediately to mind. I looked it up and "Matilda" is rated PG. Now PG *does* actually stand for "parental supervision" but I'm not certain all parents actually supervise PG films. They *should* but I don't think they always do. So yes, I do recognize there is unequal treatment. "Matilda" IS considered a children's film that I believe requires at least equal careful parental supervision as "Ma Vie En Rose." In fact, for a parent and child ready to deal with these issues, they could probably be watched together. Matilda is also mistreated by her parents for being perceived as *wrongly* different by them. The big difference I guess is there is hope Ludo's parents will come to accept her at the end while Matilda's parents give her up for adoption, considered their one act of kindness toward her.

So if I were assigning the ratings I'd definitely give both "Ma Vie En Rose" and "Matilda" the same rating. Maybe not R though ... maybe split the difference and rate both PG-13?

[–] uankdeh 13 years ago

I don't know anything about how one becomes a movie "rater" for the MPAA, but I imagine the personality required of one would be socially confining. This film is one of many cases advocating anti-rating stances.

[–] felixpring 12 years ago

The DVD copy I've got has a '12' rating, same as Dark Knight which has some horribly disturbing imagery (such as the Joker's knife in his victim's mouth as he talked of his own childhood abuse).

However, in this film, if I was a censor, I might consider the scene of Ludo being discovered in the freezer with his X-Chromosome/Crucifix too difficult for a sensitive youngster to cope with without warning. If they understood it, it would be harrowing, if they didn't, they might copy.