DGPI takes aim at MTRCB's film rating decisions
The Directors' Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) is criticizing the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for its ratings of the films Alipato at Muog and Dear Satan.
The MTRCB earlier classified Dear Santa and Alipato at Muog as an X-rated film violating Presidential Decree No. 1986.
In a statement signed by DGPI President Mark Meily, it blasted the board for giving "unjust" X ratings.
It read: "The Directors' Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) unequivocally condemns the recent actions of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in issuing an X-rating to two films. Alipato at Muog and Dear Satan. We believe these decisions represent an alarming overreach of the MTRCB's mandate, reflecting an unsettling imposition of political and religious biases on creative works."
It said that the documentary film Alipato at Muog does not sensationalize but rather recounts real events about the disappearance of activists.
Alipato at Muog tackles the abduction of the film director’s older brother, activist Jonas Burgos in 2007. It received a Special Jury Award for a full-length film at Cinemalaya Film Festival.
"This film is not a work of fiction or sensationalism; it is a poignant recounting of real events, aimed at shedding light on a grave injustice that has been a matter of public record. The MTRCB's initial decision to classify this documentary as X, under the pretext of undermining government authority, is both a gross misunderstanding and an unacceptable distortion of the board's purpose," the statement said.
"Such a rating not only misrepresents the nature of the film but also undermines the essential role of documentaries in fostering public discourse and accountability."
While the film was reclassified to R-16, DGPI said it raised concerns about the MTRCB's subjectivity and inconsistency in its rating decisions, suggesting a lack of commitment to "fair and objective assessment."
'An evident overreach'
In the case of the Christmas horror film Dear Satan (now Dear Santa), an X-rating "is an evident overreach," DGPI said.
"This film, a work of fiction, explores themes of redemption and transformation by portraying a devilish character learning compassion and performing good deeds," it wrote. "The film does not glorify evil; rather, it presents a narrative that challenges conventional depictions of antagonists, suggesting that even those considered inherently bad can change for the better."
It claimed that MTRCB's decision was "rooted in a belief that a depiction of Satan as a character capable of good is inherently harmful."
DGPI said there were other literature and films that have explored similar themes without causing harm. Movies like Hellboy, Lucifer, and Little Nicky have been well-received by both audiences and critics, regardless of their religious or moral implications."
"The DGPI calls upon the MTRCB to adhere strictly to its mandate of providing fair and unbiased film classifications, free from personal, political, or religious prejudices. The role of the MTRCB should be to evaluate films based on their content and merit rather than imposing subjective
moral judgments that can stifle creativity and freedom of expression."
Dear Satan tells the story of a little girl (Sienna Stevens) who accidentally writes to Satan (Paolo Contis) instead of Santa. After reading her heartfelt wishes, Satan grants her Christmas dreams.
MTRCB previously said Dear Satan is "an attack on fundamental belief of the Catholic and Christian faiths."
"The Committee that reviewed the film found that the material depicts Satan as capable of transformation, saying it is a distortion of Catholic and Christian teachings. The review committee said the film’s narrative, which presents the possibility of Satan being redeemed, is deceiving to the eyes of the viewers," the MTRCB explained.
Following this, Mavx Productions, Inc., the film producer, changed the title to Dear Santa to "better reflect its intended message and to honor the sensitivities of all our viewers."
Meanwhile, for Alipato at Muog, the review committee changed its rating to R-16 and determined that "a more mature viewer is necessary to understand, dissect, and grapple with the serious issues presented in this documentary, without compromising their own faith and confidence in the government."
Burgos wrote in a Facebook post, "Our documentary is not fiction. It is a story of a family searching for their missing loved one. It is about human rights and the pursuit for justice."
