The Melon Farmers report that Mysterious Skin, a film by US director, Gregg Araki about two damaged young men who were abused by their sports coach, may be banned from Australian cinemas.

In its majority decision, the Office of Film and Literature Classification said the film’s child-abuse theme was presented in discreet visuals and is justified by context.

But Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has ordered a review of the R rating after a request from his South Australian counterpart, Michael Atkinson.

In a letter to Ruddock, Atkinson said: The guidelines for the classification of films say that ‘films and computer games will be refused classification if they contain depictions or descriptions of child sexual abuse’. The board’s report makes clear that this film includes just that.

Gregg Araki has said that he is stunned the movie may be banned in Australia, given that it has already opened in several countries with no incident and no problem with censorship.

The Classification Review Board hearing has been set for August 1st. In the UK the film is uncut and rated 18.

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