GagWatch

After being banned in Inverness for almost 20 years, Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ is finally going to be shown in the city as part of a short Visions Of Christ season being staged during Easter.

Inverness District Council banned on the film – which had been given an 18 Certificate by the BBFC – provoking a heated debate in the area. On one hand were the usual objectors who hadn’t seen the film and didn’t want anyone else to be able to. On the other side of the debate were those that pointed out that the the ban amounted to censorship and an infringement of artistic licence. Despite an 800 signature petition, councillors agreed to invoke an outright ban on the film which they had not seen for themselves.

The decision to include the film in the season follows a request from a projectionist from avid cinema goer Gale Chrisman who was a leading campaigner against the ban. Consequently, The Last Temptation of Christ is set to be shown for one night as part a short series including the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Monty Python’s Life Of Brian.

Highland Council confirmed that the ban had lapsed but said it would look into the matter again if complaints were received against the film that was released on DVD in 2000 with a 15 certificate.

The Last Temptation of Christ is due to be shown at Eden Court Cinema by the Floral Hall on 6th April.

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