Review:
Film
"Mysterious Skin" (2004
By John Frame (
Mysterious Skin (2004,
Director
& Screenwriter: Gregg Araki
Below is my submission to the Australian Film Classification Review Board in support of
retaining the original rating of “R-18+”. The Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock had ordered that the classification
of “Mysterious Skin” be re-assessed.
Ruddock had been lobbied by the South Australian Attorney-General to do so (and
he in turn had been lobbied by conservative fundamentalist Christian group “The
Australian Family Association” - who wanted the film banned altogether.)
Date:
To: CLASSIFICATION
REVIEW BOARD SECRETARY
Re: The Gregg Araki film “Mysterious Skin”
I am writing to express my
considered opinion that “Mysterious Skin” should be allowed general
distribution in
I attended a preview
screening of Mysterious Skin at The Dendy Cinema in
Mysterious Skin has a clear
purpose of engaging the audience in forming a critical awareness of the
surreptitious nature of paedophilia and the serious
long term emotional damage and consequential physical damage it causes.
Paedophiles persist in being able to covertly abuse children
because of the overwhelming tendency of the general public to avoid talking
about how and why child sexual abuse happens. Of great value, therefor, is the fact that Mysterious skin is as honest as
it is confronting. This film helps the viewing public to open necessary,
life-saving dialogue.
Some paedophiles
try to justify their actions by suggesting that the child “welcomed” the sexual
interaction, however Mysterious Skin shows that even when a child is aware of
their own same-sex attraction (as is the character Neil) and is not physically
forced to participate, there is still great emotional damage done. Neil is
shown as being so obsessed with the abusive relationship that he is unable to
form loving, trusting relationships with his peers. Neil’s low self-esteem
places his physical health in great risk through risky sexual behaviour.
It is important to note that
while we adult viewers can understand what is happening to the characters on
and off the screen, the director takes great care to ensure that the actors are
not exploited. There are no scenes in this film that are intrinsically
titillating, and there is very little nudity (especially when compared to many
films shown on free to air television).
Mysterious Skin also
highlights for parents their responsibility to effectively communicate with
their children and to earn their trust by demonstrating due care and concern.
Parents will find themselves inspired to empower their children with knowledge
that might protect them from being seduced by a paedophile.
This film shows us a certain
amount of resolution – in that the two main characters share their grief as
they confront the truth about their experience of sexual abuse by their sports
coach. However the audience can see that the damage done by paedophilia
is ongoing, and perhaps even undiminished with time. The vast majority of
screen time deals with how these two young adults are struggling to find a
sense of value and normalcy in their lives.
Mysterious Skin is state of
the art cinema in every aspect, including all actors, and it is the sheer
quality of craftsmanship which proves the sincerity and respect devoted by the
film-maker to the subject matter. This film deserves the widest possible adult
viewing audience.
Yours sincerely,
John Frame.