A Serbian Film 'becomes most cut movie in 16 years'

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has said that controversial movie 'A Serbian Film' has become the most cut film in 16 years.

The dark thriller featuring disturbing scenes of violence and sex has had four minutes and 11 seconds of its original content removed.

The BBFC said that it "rarely cuts" cinema releases with an 18 certificate.

In 1994 the Indian movie Nammavar was cut by five minutes and eight seconds for violent content.

"A number of cuts were required to remove elements of sexual violence that tend to eroticise or endorse sexual violence," the BBC quoted a BBFC spokeswoman as saying.

The film is scheduled for UK release on the 10th December, although distributors Revolver Entertainment said it does not yet know how many cinemas it will be shown in.

A spokesman from the company said, "Revolver remains committed to releasing the closest possible version of the film to the director''s original cut. The company recognises that the film is an uncompromising, artistic and political statement from a unique film-making vision and remains fully supportive to the director."

The movie was written by Serbian horror film critic Aleksandar Radivojevic and directed by Srdjan Spasojevic.

Radivojevic has defended the movie, calling it an "a diary of our molestation by the Serbian government".

Film critic Scott Weinberg noted, "I think the film is tragic, sickening, disturbing, twisted, absurd, infuriated, and actually quite intelligent. I admire and detest it at the same time. And I will never watch it again. Ever."

Earlier this month, Variety reported that Spain had banned public screenings of the film at the Terror Film Week in San Sebastian.