The Chief Censor has added a suicide warning note to the classification of the movie A Star is Born, which is currently screening in New Zealand cinemas, after receiving complaints.
The Office of Film & Literature Classification says Police Victim Support laid a complaint, advising that they responded to two vulnerable young people who had been severely "triggered" by a suicide scene in the film.
The Mental Health Foundation also told the office of a number of complaints.
A Star is Born was not classified by the Office of Film & Literature Classification when it released in New Zealand.
It had been rated an M in Australia so was automatically cross-rated M - unrestricted, suitable for 16 years and over - in New Zealand by the Film & Video Labelling Body. At that stage, it carried a descriptive note: "Sex scenes, offensive language and drug use."
The Chief Censor, David Shanks required that the warning note be updated to include "suicide" after receiving the complaints.
Mr Shanks says that although A Star is Born handles the topic of suicide relatively sensitively, the Office of Film & Literature Classification felt it was in the best interest of the New Zealand public to add a warning, particularly considering New Zealand’s appalling suicide rate.
“Many people in New Zealand have been impacted by suicide. For those who have lost someone close to them, a warning gives them a chance to make an informed choice about watching,” Mr Shanks said.
The Film & Video Labelling Body issued a new certificate to be displayed, and alerted exhibitors to the note change so they could update their information. Where possible, the distributor must update the label on all advertising.
A Star is Born is the fourth iteration of a well-known rags-to-riches tale, originally written and filmed in the 1930s. The 2018 update tells the story of aspiring singer-songwriter Ally and her star-crossed romance with grizzled country-rock star Jackson Maine.
The Mental Health Foundation says while the suicide mostly happens off-screen, the foundation has heard some viewers were extremely distressed after watching the movie and have needed to access professional support.
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