Italy Abolishes Film Censorship, Establishes Classification Commission

Italy has lifted restrictions on film censorship, eliminating bans on both theatrical and conditional releases. A decree signed by Culture Minister Dario Franceschini has established the Commission for the Classification of Cinematographic Works, led by Alessandro Pajno and consisting of 49 specialists. This commission will oversee the appropriate classification of films. Additionally, a virtual exhibition called Cinecensura has been launched to document the history of censorship, showcasing materials related to 300 films, 80 newsreels, 100 advertisements, 28 censored posters, and cut footage, categorized by themes such as sex, politics, violence, and religion. Prominent films that faced censorship include Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rope' (1949, released 1956), Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' (1971, first TV broadcast 1999), and Bernardo Bertolucci's 'Last Tango in Paris' (1972, blocked until 1987).