2009/01: Should Will Smith's film, 'Seven Pounds', be given at least an MA classification?<BR>

Echo Issue Outline ... to return to the page you "clicked" from, simply close this window

Related issue outlines:
No related issue outlines

Dictionary: Double-click on any word in the text to bring up a dictionary definition of that word in a new window (IE only).

Analysing the language of the news media: Click here to read a useful document on media language analysis

Age, Herald-Sun and Australian items: Click this icon ...

... to search the Echo newspaper index and enter the following word(s), with just a space in between them.
film
seven
pounds

Sydney Morning Herald index: Click here to use the State Library of NSW's online index to the Sydney Morning Herald

2009/01: Should Will Smith's film, 'Seven Pounds', be given at least an MA classification?<BR>

2009/01: Should Will Smith's film, 'Seven Pounds', be given at least an MA classification?

What they said...
'My strong recommendation to any mums and dads listening is that it's not suitable for kids and it's particularly not suitable for anybody I think whose been touched by suicide in their life'
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg,child and adolescent psychologist

'The chief drawback of this "blame the film" syndrome is that rather than tackling the social causes of a problem, it trivialises the issue by offering the public a simplistic, high-profile scapegoat'
Jim Schembri, film critic for The Age

The issue at a glance
On radio station 3AW, child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg was interviewed by Neil Mitchell and invited to give his views on the new Will Smith film, 'Seven Pounds'. Dr Carr-Gregg voiced a number of problems he had found with the film.. His primary concern was that teenagers who saw it might be led to consider suicide attractive.
Dr Carr-Gregg also complained that the film's trailer did not indicate that the film dealt with suicide. Dr Carr-Gregg indicated that he believes the film should have been given an MA rather than an M rating.
The following day The Age's film critic, Jim Schembri, responded to Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. Mr Schembri also failed to enjoy the film; however, he took issue with many of Carr-Gregg's comments about it. Schembri does not believe the film normalises suicide. He further doubts that any film has the capacity to influence which Carr-Gregg had been concerned about.
The issue met with significant reader response in The Age and with some listener response on 3AW. The debate between Carr-Gregg and Schembri was also referred to on an American suicide prevention news and comment site.

Background
Information about the film 'Seven Pounds'
(The material supplied below on the film 'Seven Pounds' has been taken from the wikipedia entry dealing with this film. The full wikipedia entry can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Pounds)

'Seven Pounds' is a 2008 drama film, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven strangers. Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper also star.
Prior to the film's release, the title 'Seven Pounds' was considered a 'mystery' which the studio refused to explain. Early trailers for Seven Pounds also kept the film's details a mystery. Director Gabriele Muccino explained the intent. 'The [audience] will not know exactly what this man is up to.' Will Smith is reported to have confirmed that the title refers to Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice, in which a debtor must pay a pound of flesh.[9] In this case it amounts to parts of his body donated to seven persons deemed worthy by Smith's character. They are the recipients of his heart, a lung, part of his liver, and his eyes, among other things.
The film was released on December 19, 2008 in 2,758 theaters in the United States and Canada. It grossed an estimated $16 million, placing second at the weekend box office after 'Yes Man'. The opening gross was the lowest for a film starring Smith since 'Ali' in 2001. The gross was also $5 million less than anticipated, partially ascribed to winter storms in the Northeast over the weekend. According to studio research, 64% of the audience was over 25 years old, and 55% were female.
Critics have given the film generally negative reviews. The movie website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 28% of critics gave the film positive write-ups based upon a sample of 130 with an average score of 4.7/10. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average score of 36 based on 31 reviews.
Variety's film reviewer Todd McCarthy predicted that the movie's climax 'will be emotionally devastating for many viewers, perhaps particularly those with serious religious beliefs', but characterised the film as an 'endlessly sentimental fable about sacrifice and redemption that aims only at the heart at the expense of the head'.
Other established reviewers were more critical; A. O. Scott, writing for The New York Times, said that the movie '... may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made'. Positive reviews singled out Dawson's performance; Richard Corliss wrote in Time that Dawson gives 'a lovely performance', while Mick LaSalle of The San Francisco Chronicle noted that Dawson's performance 'shows once again that she has it in her to be a powerhouse'.

Australia's system of film classification
The Australian Film Classification Board provides the following guidelines for film classifications.
The Film Classification Board's Internet site can be accessed at http://www.classification.gov.au/special.html?n=250&p=58

G classification
This category is considered suitable for all viewers. The G classification symbol does not necessarily indicate that the film is one that children will enjoy. Some G films contain themes or story-lines that are of no interest to children.
Parents should feel confident that children can watch material in this classification without supervision. Material classified G will not be harmful or disturbing to children. Whether or not the film is intended for children, the treatment of themes and other classifiable elements will be careful and discreet.

PG classification
The PG classification signals to parents that material in this category contains depictions or references which could be confusing or upsetting to children without adult guidance.
Material classified PG will not be harmful or disturbing to children. Parents may choose to preview the material for their children, watch the material with their children, or perhaps be accessible during or after the viewing to discuss the content.

M classification
The Mature category is advisory and not legally restricted. However, material in this category cannot be recommended for those under 15 years of age.
Films classified M contain material that is considered to be potentially harmful or disturbing to those under 15 years. Depictions and references to classifiable elements may contain detail. However, the impact will not be so strong as to require restriction.

MA 15+ classification
The MA category is legally restricted. Children under 15 will not be allowed to see MA films in the cinema or hire them on video or DVD unless in the company of a parent or adult guardian.
Material classified MA deals with issues or contains depictions which require a mature perspective. The impact of individual elements or a combination of elements is considered likely to be harmful or disturbing to viewers under 15 years of age.

R 18+ classification
The R category is legally restricted to adults over 18 years of age. Material which is given a restricted classification is unsuitable for those under 18. Material classified R deals with issues or contains depictions which require an adult perspective.
The classification is not intended as a comment on the quality of the material. Some material may be offensive to some sections of the adult community. Material which promotes or incites or instructs in matters of crime and/or violence is not permitted.

X 18+ classification
X18+ is a specially and legally restricted classification category. Films in this classification are sexually explicit and contain depictions of actual sexual intercourse between consenting adults. The X18+ classification means that the film can only be legally sold or hired in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory from premises licensed to sell X18+ videotapes and DVDs. Only people aged 18 years and over are able to buy and hire such films from these premises.

Internet information
The trailer for 'Seven Pounds' can be accessed from the film's promotional Internet site at http://www.sevenpounds.com/
Other promotional video material can also be seen on this site.
YouTube also gives access to the trailer at http://www.sevenpounds.com/

On January 8, 2009, Neil Mitchell interviewed child psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg on 'Seven Pounds'' treatment of suicide. (Dr Carr-Gregg is a regular guest on Neil Mitchell's 3AW radio program.) The interview can be heard at http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic-blog/psychologist-attacks-will-smiths-flick/20090108-7ca3.html (Please note: If you go to this site, you will need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the interview.)

A full transcript of the interview is supplied below. (NM refers to Neil Mitchell. MCG refers to Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.)

NM: Dr Michael Carr-Greegg is on the line at the moment. He is the program psychologist. Now we must warn people that we are going to spoil a lot of the plot here but it's in the form of a warning so if you don't want to know what's happening in this film tune out now. But if you are a parent I advise you very much to listen to what Michael Carr-Gregg has to say. Good morning to you.

MCG: Good morning, Neil. I went to the movies last night and I saw the trailer and there is no hint whatsoever that this movie might contain disturbing scenes. My problem with it is that it actually has a graphic depiction of a suicide and it had received astonishingly an M rating. Now there is no hint of suicidal content in the trailer we have just listened to and there is quite clearly a danger that this movie will normalise, sanitise and potentially glamorise suicide. And that is a great, great problem.

NM: I was quite bamboozled when I heard you describe that to us because when I saw that trailer I was with my thirteen year-old. He's a huge Will Smith fan. Will Smith's been in so many action movies and so many movies aimed at teenagers he actually said he wanted to see it and up until I spoke to you I thought to myself I've got no objections to that.

MCG: Yeah, look ah the bottom line is this is a movie like the one I discussed with you this time last year, 'The Happening' that is really misclassified. An M rating means that it is recommended for audiences fifteen years and over. Now what you have to recognise is this is not a legally restricted Australian movie rating but, it's recommending to people that people under fifteen shouldn't see it. I think this should get an MA rating or at least an R rating and I wonder whether the chief censor has mental health people on board to review these movies to assess whether or not in fact they are going to be potentially problematic to people who for example might have mental health problems, to young children, to people whose lives have been touched by suicide.

NM: I think when a movie deals with an issue such as suicide a parent has a right to know that the movie is about that and from your description the whole movie is basically about a suicide and people should be aware of that theme no matter how old they are. They should be aware of that before they go in.

MCG: The actual depiction of suicide is very, very graphic. I'm not going to go into details but I think one of the things you have to recognise is there is enough literature to suggest that when we have these sorts of depictions of suicide they can influence not all people but some people and therefore the copycat component is one we have to take seriously and one would think that the director of the movie, Gabriele Muccino, would not want to have on her hands or on her conscience the idea that any of these people who have watched her movie have subsequently gone and hurt themselves.

NM: OK Michael, the basic premise of the move. Go through the basic plot line for us.

MCG: OK the basic plot is that Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven strangers. He basically has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, which he was responsible for, ah, and seven people died in that accident. So what he's decided to do is take his own life and give his organs to worthy people. So he basically interviews seven people to try and find two that he thinks are worthy of his organs. Now there are so many problems with this it's not funny. One is that if in fact he is found dead the coroner would have to in Australia order an autopsy and I think that would make it very difficult for anybody to donate their organs so that is one small problem with the plot, that it is Hollywood.
But as I say the whole thing is profoundly disrespectful to people who have engaged in organ donation which I know is very important to 3AW but then the whole suicidality component is not made explicit in the trailer or any of the publicity for the movie.

NM: So is the issue - that parents should be warned or do you want to see these sorts of movies banned?

MCG: I wouldn't see them banned because I think that just drives them underground but I do think that the Chief Censor has to look at including mental health people on the classification of such movies, number one. Number two, I don't think it is acceptable for movies like this to come on without any hints to mums and dads that there might be disturbing material in them. And that's why I've kind of blown the whistle on it. My strong recommendation to any mums and dads listening is that it's not suitable for kids and it's particularly not suitable for anybody I think whose been touched by suicide in their life.

On January 9, 2009, Jim Schembri, the film critic for The Age, criticised Michael Carr-Gregg's response to 'Seven Pounds'. Jim Schembri's comments can be found on The Age's Internet site together with 75 reader comments about the issue at http://blogs.theage.com.au/schembri/archives/2009/01/seven_pounds_bl.html

On January 10, 2009, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg wrote a letter to The Age responding to Jim Schembri's criticism of his views. The full text of Dr Michael Carr-Gregg's letter can be found at http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/letters/will-obama-achieve-peace-20090109-7dmb.html?skin=text-only
The letter is headed 'Glorifying suicide'. Please note: You will need to scroll about halfway down the page to locate the letter.

Suicide Prevention News and Comment's (SPNAC) mission is to help communities keep up-to-date on developments in the fields of suicide prevention and suicide grief support.
The website is intended to be a reader-focused resource, featuring news and information from across the United States and Canada (some posts reference stories of interest from elsewhere that are published in English).
On December 23, 2008, SPNAC began drawing together a series of comments about the film 'Seven Pounds'. It finally included a reference to the debate which occurred in Australia between Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Jim Schembri.
SPNAC's collection of comments on 'Seven Pounds', prepared and commented on by the site's editor Franklin Cook can be found at http://suicidepreventioncommunity.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/seven-pounds-is-guilty-of-irresponsibility-with-suicide/

On December 17, 2008, The Chicago Sun Times film critic, Roger Ebert, favourably reviewed 'Seven Pounds'. Included in the review is Roger Ebert's belief that an audience better appreciates the film if it views it without any prior knowledge of what the film is about. Ebert's review can be found at http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081217/REVIEWS/812179987

Arguments supporting 'Seven Pounds' being given at least an MA classification
1. Young people and depressives can be influenced to harm themselves by such fictional representations of suicide
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is concerned that a film such as 'Seven Pounds' could 'be potentially problematic to people who for example might have mental health problems, to young children, to people whose lives have been touched by suicide.'
Carr-Gregg goes on to explain that ' there is enough literature to suggest that when we have these sorts of depictions of suicide they can influence not all people but some people and therefore the copycat component is one we have to take seriously...'
In addition to Dr Michael Carr-Gregg's views, others have noted the possibility that this film might distress those who suffered with suicidal inclinations and might even encourage some people to act on these inclinations.
One of Age film critic, Jim Schembri's blog correspondents, Christine, made this point. The correspondent was distressed by the hopelessness of the film and that it offered no redemption other than death. She noted, 'I saw Seven Pounds overseas recently and found it traumatic. As someone who is a recent suicide survivor and watched someone spiral into the depression that predisposes taking ones own life I found the depiction in Seven Pounds bleak, and unfortunately, close to home.
While you find the radio commentator's views amusing, I can say that I unfortunately agree with them. It is not the act that disturbed me. It was the lack of hope, the despair, the determination to end ones own existence without grabbing onto all the beauties that life offered that made the movie horrific. Will Smith, a man who runs a leadership academy and - despite views to the contrary - is a man who influences, seems to promote the ideas that there is no forgiveness.
I wished so much that this movie had promoted the truths of life, that forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, joy and hope - in spite of mistakes, in spite of death, that truly there can be 'beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness.' That life is a gift and you can find the greatest beauty in the greatest pain... '

2. The film romanticises and normalises suicide
There has been concern expressed that 'Seven Pounds' presents suicide in a positive light and has the capacity to 'normalise' it, that is, might make it seem like a rational and acceptable course of action to take.
This view has been put by child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. Dr Carr-Gregg has stated, 'there is quite clearly a danger that this movie will normalise, sanitise and potentially glamorise suicide. And that is a great, great problem'.
Among those who criticise the film's treatment of suicide are those who believe it attempts to make the act appear noble and selfless. Mia Best, writing for Christian Spotlight on Entertainment noted, 'Initially, I recommended this movie for adult audiences for its movie making quality and ability to draw the viewer in emotionally to the characters. But after pondering on it and some thought-provoking conversations, I cannot recommend this movie at all. Because the entire thrust of the movie gives nobility to a faithless, selfish and reprehensible act.'
Ms Best went on to explain her view in these terms, 'While it doesn't glamorize suicide, it pulls on all the emotional cords to make Ben's final act of giving seem noble and selfless. The truth is that suicide is the most selfish act there is. It is an act that says, I give up; I can't possibly believe or hope that anything better is going to happen in my life.'
Nell Minow writing for Movie Mom similarly observed, 'It is not the obviousness and phoniness and manipulation that bothers me as much as the clueless and even condescending immorality of it. No one thinks that suicide, even to benefit others, is a legitimately redemptive act and it is contemptible and irresponsible of the movie to suggest otherwise.'
The position taken in the Movie Mom review echoes the overall view of Suicide Prevention News and Comment (SPNAC). This Internet site notes of 'Seven Pounds', 'One wonders, with all that is known about the deadly relationship between media depictions of suicide and actual suicidal behavior, whether Columbia Pictures or Will Smith even considered the possibility that their film might harm members of its paying audience who might be at risk. Simply but powerfully stated, in a 2005 literature review published in Academic Psychiatry,"Data support an increased number of suicides resulting from media accounts of suicide that romanticize or dramatize the description of suicidal deaths."'

3. The film presents suicide very graphically
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is concerned that the scene in which the Will Smith character takes his own life is quite drawn out and explicit. Twice in his 3AW interview Dr Carr-Gregg describes the suicide scene as 'explicit'. He states, ' My problem with it is that it actually has a graphic depiction of a suicide and it had received astonishingly an M rating.'
Dr Carr-Gregg then goes on to explain why he considers this type of treatment of suicide a concern. He notes, 'The actual depiction of suicide is very, very graphic. I'm not going to go into details but I think one of the things you have to recognise is there is enough literature to suggest that when we have these sorts of depictions of suicide they can influence not all people but some people.'
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg responded to Jim Schembri's criticisms of his concerns in a letter published in The Age on January 10, 2009. The letter states, 'Despite what Schembri says, there is peer-reviewed evidence that graphic depictions can trigger suicide in some vulnerable young people. Perhaps he should stick to film reviewing.'

4. Will Smith is a popular performer with young audiences
Some critics of 'Seven Pounds' have been concerned because the film's male lead, Will Smith, is an actor with a particular appeal to young audiences. This is seen as concerning because the character he plays commits suicide and his behaviour could be an inducement for vulnerable adolescents to act similarly.
Neil Mitchell, the 3AW commentator who interviewed Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, made the following observation, 'When I saw that trailer I was with my thirteen year-old. He's a huge Will Smith fan. Will Smith's been in so many action movies and so many movies aimed at teenagers he actually said he wanted to see it and up until I spoke to you I thought to myself I've got no objections to that.'
Neil Mitchell went on to observe that where a film such as this had the capacity to attract young viewers because of its leading actor, then parents had a right to be informed as to what the film was about.
Mr Mitchell made the following further comment, 'I think when a movie deals with an issue such as suicide a parent has a right to know that the movie is about that and from your description the whole movie is basically about a suicide and people should be aware of that theme no matter how old they are. They should be aware of that before they go in.'
The implication of Mr Mitchell's remarks is that young people could be induced to view the film because they were attracted by Will Smith's previous body of work. Neither the adolescents nor their parents would be aware of the subject matter of the film. This could led young viewers to be either disturbed or influenced by the film's treatment of suicide. Nothing in Will Smith's popular image would led either young fans or their parents to anticipate the nature of 'Seven Pounds'.
In an interview with Rebecca Murray for About.com, Will Smith acknowledged that his role in 'Seven Pounds' was a very different and difficult one for him to play. He stated, 'It was exhausting trying to pull myself down into the mental space of Ben Thomas... I didn't want to relate to being broken by trauma. I always play characters like Muhammad Ali and even Captain Steven Hiller in Independence Day - people who have these fantastic reactions to trauma and they stand up and beat on their chest... I developed it just through research and talking and understanding the truth of what it means to lose everything.'

5. Nothing in the film's trailer warns potential audiences that it is about suicide nor that it treats suicide positively
One of the principal complaints made about the film is that its advance publicity, including its trailer, do not warn audiences of the controversial material it contains. This point has been made repeatedly by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg who has stated, ' I went to the movies last night and I saw the trailer and there is no hint whatsoever that this movie might contain disturbing scenes.'
In the same interview for 3AW, Dr Carr-Gregg later states, ' The whole suicidality component is not made explicit in the trailer or any of the publicity for the movie...I don't think it is acceptable for movies like this to come on without any hints to mums and dads that there might be disturbing material in them. And that's why I've kind of blown the whistle on it. My strong recommendation to any mums and dads listening is that it's not suitable for kids and it's particularly not suitable for anybody, I think, who's been touched by suicide in their life.'
In a letter published in The Age on January 10, 2009, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg stated, 'An MA+ rating would have alerted parents to the fact that the film might not be suitable for young teenagers or families touched by suicide. Talkback callers rang radio station 3AW yesterday to thank me for alerting them to the fact that this movie contained a graphic depiction of suicide. They had intended to take their children to see it as it starred Will Smith, known for light-hearted roles.'

Arguments against 'Seven Pounds' being given at least an MA classification
1. Films do not cause people (adolescent or otherwise) to commit suicide
It has been argued that films are not a major influence on how people behave. According to this point of view, a film will not make a person a depressive, nor will it cause him or her to become suicidal. Those who hold this view maintain that behaviour and personal predispositions are shaped by far larger familial, social and genetic factors. It is further claimed that focusing on the supposed influence of films, turns attention away from the true causes of whatever problem is being discussed.
This point has been made by The Age's film critic, Jim Schembri. The critic has stated in relation to 'Seven Pounds', 'Films have long made convenient punching bags for hot-button issues seeking headlines. We saw such knee-jerk hysteria over Lolita (1997) for its alleged promotion of pedophilia, Romper Stomper (1992) for its relish of street violence, Trainspotting (1996) for supposedly glamourising heroin abuse and Baise-moi (2000) for its depiction of rape. In no case was the media hysteria justified.
The chief drawback of this "blame the film" syndrome is that rather than tackling the social causes of a problem, it trivialises the issue by offering the public a simplistic, high-profile scapegoat.'
It has further been suggested that rather than promoting suicide, any film or other fictionalised treatment of the issue may help those who are depressed and considering taking their own lives view the action in a more realistic manner.
This point was made by an Age blog correspondent replying to Jim Schembri's observations. This blogger observed, 'Seeing Will Smith committing suicide in a movie does not increase the rates of teenage (or other) suicides. On the contrary, the very fact that this raises the topic for discussion does probably a lot more to prevent suicides than quietly ignoring the elephant in the room.'
A similar point was made by 'Keith', another of those who responded to Jim Schembri's observations via The Age's blog facility. This reader noted, 'It clearly hasn't occurred to any of these panic mongers that a disturbed teen watching a film where the protagonist commits suicide (by box jellyfish no less!) may actually cause them to view suicide in a different light. Not as a feasible solution to the issues plaguing them, but the non solution that it actually is.
In my angst ridden teen years, seeing a character on screen battling similar demons to my own was a source of comfort and courage, certainly never inspiration for the unthinkable. We really need to give teenagers more credit than this.'
The point was made again by another of Jim Schembri's blog correspondents who noted, 'By wrapping suicide in cotton wool, Carr-Gregg does nothing other than to stigmatise those who might choose suicide, and the memory of those who have. Suicide is the preventable manifestation of an illness. We do not cry foul when cancer or HIV deaths are portrayed in film. His objection is a nonsense. Discussing suicide openly, and honoring the victims of depression with dignity is a nobler pursuit.'

2. The film neither romanticizes nor attempts to popularise suicide
It has been argued that the film in no way seeks to normalise suicide, nor to make it appear a desirable or attractive course of action. The film's protagonist, played by Will Smith, kills himself in an unusual manner, unavailable to most people and one which would presumably be unlikely to appeal to those contemplating suicide.
This point has been made by The Age's Film critic, Jim Schembri. Mr Schembri notes, 'Any claim that Seven Pounds depicts suicide in a way that normalises, sanitises or glamourises the practice is laughably deluded.' Mr Schembri elaborates, 'If anything, the film's use of such an elaborate method - death by box jellyfish! - is designed to abstract the portrayal not, as Carr-Gregg insists, render it "very, very graphic". '
Some of those Age readers who responded by blog to Jim Schembri's response to Michael Carr-Gregg's criticisms of the film 'Seven Pounds' also noted the far-fetched nature of the device the Will Smith character uses to kill himself. One reader, 'Leia', observed, 'As much as I love Will Smith, I'm not even going to bother renting this on DVD! Death by jellyfish? The writers must have been on crack!...
"So, how's he gonna do the deed?"
"Yeah, let's try and make it, like, really out there ..."
"What about we make him face a deadly animal?"
"Yeah! How 'bout he throws himself in a lion enclosure at the zoo?"
"Or, what about he cuts himself and goes for a swim to attract sharks?"
"Dudes, I got it. How about we put him in a bathtub with a box jellyfish?"
"Awesome!"...
Please...'
Jim Schembri, in obvious agreement, replied, 'And it's not explained how one gets hold of a box jellyfish. Do you get them in stores?'

3. Changing the film's classification will not significantly control who is able to view it
It has also been suggested that changing the classification of any film, including 'Seven Pounds', is unlikely to control who is able to view it. Film classifications attempting to regulate who will be admitted when a film is given its cinema release no longer determine who will ultimately view the film. The film will also have multiple free-to-air television screenings. More significantly, it will be viewed via its DVD release and key sections of the film (including in all probability the suicide sequence) will be transmitted over the Internet through forums such as YouTube.
The impossibility of fully controlling who is able to see this or any other film has been stressed by The Age's film critic, Jim Schembri. Mr Schembri has stated, 'The notion that bumping up the rating from M to MA would somehow restrict teens from accessing the film suggests that things such as DVDs and the internet do not exist. The MA rating would no more keep any teen from seeing the film than those "confirm birth date" windows prevent them from watching softcore porn on YouTube.
It has further been suggested that even during a film's cinema release its classification may not be strictly enforced by theatre managers. This point was made by one of The Age film critic, Jim Schembri's, blog correspondents, who noted, 'Kids as young as 13 can get away with watching things [classified] MA, MA+ without parent guidance. It's the cinemas such as Village , Hoyts and others [that] sell tickets regardless of their [audience's] age. They just want to make big bucks.'

4. The film's trailer does not reveal the suicide element in the plot as to do so would reduce the story's impact
It has been repeatedly suggested that the advance publicity for 'Seven Pounds' did not reveal the suicide that formed part of its plot because this would have reduced the film's impact on audiences. Therefore, this aspect of the film was not promoted prior to the film's screening in order to increase the audience's involvement in the film during their initial viewing of it.
This point has been made by Pulitzer Prize winning American film critic, Roger Ebert, who noted, 'I am reminded of a film you should see some day, Melville's "Le Samourai," about a man who lies on a bed in a dark hotel room and smokes, and gets up, and pays meticulous attention to his appearance, and goes out into the night, and we have no idea who this man is. I find this more interesting than a movie about a man whose nature and objectives are made clear in the first five minutes, in a plot that simply points him straight ahead.' Many of those who found the film a worthwhile viewing experience where pleased by the fact that they had not gone into the cinema knowing they were about to view a film that dealt with a man's suicide. They were also impressed that the film took some time to reveal what its protagonist's motivations were. Roger Ebert further noted, 'I haven't even hinted about the hidden motives in this film. Miraculously for once, even the trailers don't give anything away.'
Therefore, a number of those who have yet to view the film have objected to being given pre-information about it, including the fact of the Will Smith character's suicide. They clearly valued that the trailer had not given them this information. Some of these people corresponded with Jim Schembri on The Age's blog site to complain that this advance information had spoiled the film for them. This would appear to suggest that there are those who do not agree with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg when he argues that audiences should have been given more advance knowledge of what this film contains.

5. It is inconsistent to focus on 'Seven Pounds' as an encouragement to adolescent suicide
It has also been noted that there are many other films which have dealt directly with adolescent suicide (unlike 'Seven Pounds') and about which there have been no call for reclassification.
This point has been made by The Age's film critic, Jim Schembri. Mr Schembri has noted, '... why this particular film has raised such ire is baffling given the use of suicide in so many high-profile films and TV shows. The story of the Oscar-winning Dead Poets Society (1989) hinges on a schoolboy's suicide, the depiction of which is far more vivid and dramatic than in Seven Pounds. Yet the film has been freely available for more than 20 years and it is rated PG. Similarly, the excellent Australian film Looking for Alibrandi (2000) also has teen suicide at the heart of its story. It is rated M, is popular among teens and the source novel by Melina Marchetta is a school text. Yet no outcry.'
Mr Schembri then went on to consider a number of other treatments of adolescent suicide, both recent and long-standing, which have not led to warnings and calls for reclassification. He has noted, 'Children of Men (2006) presented a bleak future world where suicide was attractive, serene and legal. It was rated MA, the deterrent effects of which count for zero on DVD.
In the new season of the animated show Family Guy, which distraction-seeking teens are far more likely to see than a dull Will Smith movie, we see Peter Griffin blow his brains out. And, of course, every episode of the classic, ever-popular prime-time sitcom MASH features the iconic theme Suicide is Painless.'

Further implications
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is clearly of the belief that films are capable of influencing the behaviour of vulnerable individuals. He is also aware that they are capable of giving offence. Though Jim Schembri appears less convinced of film's capacity to influence behaviour, there would appear to be a general popular consensus that this is the case. Dr Carr-Gregg and others have also noted that research into the influences on human behaviour supports the common belief that films can effect how some members of their audience behave. Certainly the Australian Film Classification Board applies a code which acknowledges that films can give offence and that young people may need to be protected from being influenced by the viewing of inappropriate material.
It may well be that the Board should reclassify 'Seven Pounds' so as to ensure that parents are aware of its potential to disturb young viewers. Jim Schembri is obviously correct when he notes that merely classifying a film MA15+ will not prevent it being viewed by a younger audience. However, short of banning all potentially disturbing material, our classification system is the best method we have of ensuring that the young are protected and that audience members make informed decisions about what they view. Given that an MA15+ classification would still allow younger people to see the film (in the company of a responsible adult), Dr Carr-Gregg's proposal does not seem an unreasonable one. Whether it happens will depend on whether the Board receives formal complaints about 'Seven Pounds' and then whether in its judgement these complaints should be acted on.
However, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has done more than suggest that 'Seven Pounds' be reclassified. He would like to alter the composition of the Classification Board so that it compulsorily includes a mental health expert. On the face of it, this appears a reasonable suggestion.
Currently, as outlined within the guidelines directing its operation 'the Board operates on the basis of a majority-based decision-making procedure. Accordingly, it is essential that members have the ability to clearly articulate their views orally and in writing, to appreciate and contemplate the views of others and, in light of the statutory requirements for decision making, make decisions that are good in law.
Members of the Board are exposed to a wide range of material, including a large amount of sexually explicit material. Some of the material may be of a particularly confronting or offensive nature, for example, that cited in the 'RC' (Refused Classification) categories of the National Classification Code. Board members must therefore possess maturity and balance, and the ability to apply reason, commonsense and sensitivity in the performance of their duties...
The Classification Act provides that in appointing members regard is to be had to the desirability of ensuring that membership of the Board is broadly representative of the Australian community. Members of the Board are identified through a national recruitment process appointed by the Governor-General for a period of three years and may be eligible for reappointment. Board members may not hold office as a member for a total of more than seven years.'
These guidelines would appear to make Dr Carr-Gregg's proposal seem largely unnecessary. The stipulated qualities of balance, moderation, awareness and representativeness would seem to ensure that the Board generally makes appropriate decisions, while the capacity to challenge a classification should give reassurance that any inappropriate classification can be corrected.
There is also the possibility that if it were mandated that a member of the Board had to be a mental health professional, then soon different religious groups could demand representation, as could representatives of other lobby groups. If this were to happen the Board could become a battle ground of competing interest groups and its maturity, balance and moderation would be lost.

Newspaper items used in the compilation of this issue outline
Most of the news media items used in this issue outline consist of items and letters in the "Web links and Documents" section of this issue outline. Most of this material was published after September 1, 2008 and thus is within guidelines.