Visions of Ecstasy

Visions of Ecstasy is a 1989 British short film directed by Nigel Wingrove and starring Louise Downie, Elisha Scott, and Dan Fox. It became the only work to be refused certification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) on the grounds of blasphemy.[1] The film features sexualised scenes of Saint Teresa of Ávila with the body of Jesus on the cross.

Visions of Ecstasy
UK DVD cover
Directed byNigel Wingrove
Written byNigel Wingrove
Produced byJohn Stephenson
StarringLouise Downie
Elisha Scott
Dan Fox
CinematographyRicardo Coll
Edited bySteve Graham
Music bySteven Severin
Release date
  • 1989 (1989)
Running time
18 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Ban

As cutting the scenes would remove approximately half of the film's content, the BBFC decided to refuse certification altogether. The board felt that any release of the film could be liable for prosecution under the common law offence of blasphemous libel,[1] making the refusal a form of prior restraint.

The distributor appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. It emerged in 2018 that while the case was pending the Prime Minister, John Major, had considered attempting to derogate from the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights relating to free expression to preempt or override a decision by the court to allow the film's release. This prompted the Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, to point out this was not possible "except in cases of war or threats to the life of the nation".[2] In the end the court found that the UK's blasphemy laws were consistent with the Convention, effectively upholding the BBFC's decision to refuse certification.[3]

Sale during ban
See also: Blasphemy law in the United Kingdom

A secondary school science teacher was arrested for selling Wingrove's Visions of Ecstasy in February 1992 in Birmingham. Michael Newman, an atheist, then repeated the act of selling the video in public near to Canterbury Cathedral. This led to a debate with the Bishop of Rochester on BBC Radio Kent. Newman later resigned as a teacher following protests from Christian parents. Newman also made an appearance on Channel Four’s Comment in August 1992.[4]

Eventual release

In 2008 the blasphemy laws in the UK were repealed. In January 2012 the BBFC gave the film an 18 certificate with no cuts or alterations to the original film's content.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Visions of Ecstasy gets UK rating after 23 year ban". BBC News. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  2. Davies, Caroline; Bowcott, Owen; Greenfield, Patrick (28 December 2018). "Files show John Major's aides viewed emails as passing fad". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  3. Wingrove v. The United Kingdom, (1997) 24 EHRR 1, [1996] ECHR 17419/90
  4. Smith, Warren Allen (2000). Who's Who in Hell, A Handbook and International Directory for Humanists, Freethinkers, Naturalists, Rationalists, and Non-Theists. New York: Barricade Books. ISBN 1-56980-158-4. arrested under England's blasphemy law for selling the video, "Visions of Ecstasy." He has worked to correct the inequities of the 1988 Education Reform Act, but he had to resign from his school position. As a result, he has been a subject of discussion in the media, including an appearance on Channel Four's "Comment" program https://web.archive.org/web/20130403020310/http://philosopedia.org:80/index.php/N
  5. "Visions of Ecstasy rated 18 by the BBFC". BBFC. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
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