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Deemed too racy to warrant a mere R rating, Blue Is the Warmest Color is now being deemed too important to uphold even such guidance. Abdellatif Kechiche’s highly publicized lesbian-themed drama finally opened in select American theaters on Friday with the rare NC-17 tag, but some theater’s are refusing to enforce the recommendation.
The IFC Center in Greenwich Village, New York City is openly stating that it will not refuse admission to children under 17, as it sees the film as appropriate and highly relatable for high school aged students. In a statement issued to The New York Times, John Vanco, senior vice president and general manager of the IFC Center, said,” This is not a movie for young children, but it is our judgment that it is not inappropriate for mature, inquiring teenagers who are looking ahead to the emotional challenges and opportunities that adulthood holds.”
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), whose ratings board issues the classifications, reserves an NC-17 rating for a film that “most parents would consider patently too adult for their children 17 and under.” Blue’s over 10 minutes of unbridled lesbian sex are mainly what may have helped it reach that benchmark, though the rating doesn't necessarily mean "pornographic," and even so the MPAA’s recommendation comes without any legally binding ramifications.
