In the last week IFCO, the Irish Film Classification Office, has classified 9 upcoming films that will be released in Irish cinemas shortly in the coming weeks.
Andrea Bocelli: Passione with Love from Portofino – G
The documentary is a recording of a live outdoor concert in Portofino by the famous Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli. The singer is also interviewed in his own home, talking about his new album. IFCO rate the film G citing no classification issues.
With a G from both the BBFC and IFCO this is unlikely to offend anybody. The Andrea Bocelli: Passione with Love from Portofino opens with a limited release on February 14th.
Arbitrage – 15A
The Nicholas Jarecki directed film is the story of a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire who makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help. IFCO rate the film 15A based on strong language, drug use and brief sight of bloody injury.
The BBFC classified the film as 15, in-line with the IFCO rating, and matching the MPAA’s R. Arbitrage opens nationwide on March 1st.
Easy Money (Snabba Cash) – 15A
The Daniel Espinosa directed film is a thriller which sees JW become a drug runner in order to maintain his double life. His fate becomes tied to two other men: Jorge, a fugitive on the run from both the Serbian Mafia and the police, and Mafia enforcer Mrado, who is on the hunt for Jorge. IFCO rate the film 15A based on strong violence, drug use and one strong sex scene.
The US MPAA have rated the film R, which matches the IFCO rating. Easy Money (Snabba Cash) opens nationwide on April 5th.
Fire With Fire – 15A
The David Barrett directed film is an action thriller that sees a fireman take an unexpected course of action when a man whom he’s been ordered to testify against, after being held up at a local convenience store, threatens him. IFCO rate the film 15A based on strong violence with bloody injury, and strong language throughout.
The BBFC classified the film as 15, in-line with the IFCO rating, and matching the MPAA’s R. Fire With Fire opens nationwide on March 8th.
Maniac – 18
The Franck Kahlfoun directed film is a psychological thriller about the owner of a mannequin shop who develops a dangerous obsession with a young artist. IFCO rate the film 18 based on sustained horror and several scenes of extremely brutal, gory violence and strong sexual content.
The film has yet to receive a classification in the UK or US but expect an 18 from the BBFC and a R or NC17 from the MPAA.With brutal violence and gore this was a guaranteed 18. Maniac opens nationwide on March 15th.
Mud – 12A
The Jeff Nichols’ directed drama centres on two teenage boys who encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love. IFCO rate the film 12A based on moderate violence, language and mild sex references.
The IFCO classification agrees with the US MPAA which rated the film as PG-13. Mud opens with a limited release on May 10th.
Side Effects – 15A
The Steven Soderbergh directed film is a thriller that centres on a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by the wife’s psychiatrist – intended to treat anxiety – has unexpected side effects. IFCO rate the film 15A based on infrequent strong violence and sexual content, and strong language.
The BBFC classified the film as 15, in-line with the IFCO rating, and matching the MPAA’s R. Side Effects opens nationwide on March 8th.
Special 26 – PG
The Indian film, directed by Neeraj Pandey, is a heist movie about a gang of four con men who operate throughout India, posing as detectives and tax inspectors and robbing corrupt politicians and dishonest businessmen. IFCO rate the film PG based on mild violence/threat and infrequent mild language.
The IFCO rating concurs with the BBFC who awarded an PG for mild language. Special 26 opens with a limited release on February 8th.
Trance – 16
The Danny Boyle directed film is a psychological thriller about a fine art auctioneer, mixed up with a criminal gang, who join forces with a hypnotherapist to recover a lost painting. IFCO rate the film 16 based on strong violence including one very gory scene, and strong sex/nudity.
The IFCO rating matches that of the BBFC and MPAA, which gave the film a 15 and R respectively. The strong sex and violence aspects of the movie merit the advanced rating, with IFCO obviously feeling that mature teens would not be affected by the content. Trance opens nationwide on March 27th.