The Censorship of Film Appeals Board has upheld the decision of the film censor, Mr John Kelleher, to restrict a new film, Closer, to Irish audiences aged 18 and over. Meeting for the first time in 15 months, the appeals board viewed the film last Monday evening.
As required under the Censorship Act, they were furnished with the censor's reasons for granting an 18 certificate to the film, in the form of a letter from Mr Kelleher to the appeals board chairman, Mr Paul O'Higgins SC.
Mr Kelleher wrote: "Closer deals uncompromisingly, often very explicitly, with the darker side of adult sexual relationships, notably betrayal and the corrosive effect of sexual jealousy.
"In my opinion, the film's emotional intensity and very explicit sexual dialogue make it suitable for a mature adult, rather than an adolescent, audience."
Adapted by Patrick Marber from his award-winning 1997 stage play, the film features Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman.
Its director is Mike Nichols, whose films have included The Graduate, which earned him an Oscar, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Carnal Knowledge.
Closer has received a 15 certificate from the British Board of Film Classification, with the following advisory notice: "Contains very strong language and sex references." In the US the movie is rated R (Restricted) for "sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexuality and language".
Mr Kelleher alerted the appeals board to the fact that, as a 2005 release, Closer would have been eligible for the new 16 certificate introduced by the censor's office last week and due to take effect from the beginning of the new year.
Closer goes on Irish release from January 21st.
"Although I did take this option into account before classifying the film as '18', the appeals board may wish to consider a '16'," Mr. Kelleher wrote.
However, the appeals board maintained the 18 certificate for the film.