Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
573. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Justice for a list of movies, television shows and video games currently banned by the Irish Film Classification Office; when such items were last reviewed; the reason for their prohibition; the next scheduled review or expiration of their ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15658/25]
View answerUnder Irish law, decisions regarding classification of Films, Videos and DVDs are determined by The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO). IFCO is a statutory body which is independent in the exercise of its official functions.
IFCO was established under the Censorship of Films Act 1923, with its role expanded under the Video Recordings Act 1989, to include classification of video and DVD. IFCO is responsible for examining and certifying all cinema films and videos/DVDs legally distributed in Ireland. The legislation provides that no picture shall be exhibited in public, unless the Director of Film Classification has certified that it is suitable and a certificate is displayed to that effect.
Often there is dialogue and scenes within films and videos that some viewers may find distasteful and offensive, but as long as they are not obscene or indecent in the opinion of the Director of IFCO, an appropriate certificate will be granted. IFCO has the responsibility to uphold freedom of expression, but this should not be construed as IFCO, or my Department, condoning or supporting violence within film and videos.
Regarding the last time the list of banned films was reviewed, I am advised that it is a matter for the distributor who holds the rights to submit a film, in order to have the current classification status reviewed. In 2024, the classification rating for 3 films was reviewed. In two instances, the classification was revised from 18 to 15A. In one instance, there was no change, as the 18 certificate was deemed appropriate.
Classifications awarded by IFCO are informed by guidelines that can be viewed on IFCO’s website, www.ifco.ie . In order to keep these guidelines relevant to consumers, IFCO engages periodically with focus groups comprised of parents and in the case of the most recent research, teenagers, to examine views on IFCO’s guidelines and to ensure that they reflect the expectations of today’s audience.
Under the Video Recordings Act 1989, video games are exempt from classification unless they are deemed prohibitable under section 3 (1) of the Act. Ireland, along with 15 other European countries, is a member of the Pan European Game Information organisation (PEGI), which produces age ratings for video games. Ratings and classifications of video games in Ireland are applied through the PEGI age-rating scheme. Only games awarded a PEGI 18 certificate are reviewed.
Coimisiún na Meán has responsibility for broadcast media, including television. This agency falls under the remit of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and as such the Deputy may wish to redirect that element of his question to that Department.
In relation to the Deputy's request for a list of films currently banned in Ireland, IFCO have provided my Department with the list outlined below.
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List of Films Banned From 1973 to Date |
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1973 Censored Director |
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The Baby Maker 03/01/73 James Bridges |
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It’s a 2’6” Above Ground World 09/02/73 Ralph Thomas |
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To Find A Man 19/02/73 Buzz Kulik |
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Swedish Fanny Hill 08/03/73 Mac Ahalberg |
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Anatomy of a Pin-Up 23/03/73 David Cohen |
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Sex Artist 04/05/73 Not listed |
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Au Pair Girls 08/05/73 Val Guest |
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Nine Ages of Nakedness 08/05/73 George Harrison Marks |
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Sex Service 15/05/73 Elio Ballett |
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Some of My Best Friends Are 13/06/73 Not listed |
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Three Dimensions of Gretta 22/08/73 Pete Walker |
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Clinic Xclusive 27/08/73 Don Chaffey |
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Harrad Experiment 17/09/73 Ted Post |
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Story of Nana 31/10/73 Mac Ahalberg |
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Suburban Wives 26/11/73 Derek Ford |
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Friends of Eddie Boyle 20/12/73 Peter Yates |
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1974 |
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Honey Bun 17/01/74 Alfred Voher |
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The Reluctant Virgin 30/01/74 Norman Schwartz |
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Erotic Witchcraft 18/04/74 Bebi Fontana |
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Love Pill 14/05/74 Kenneth Turner |
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To Kill a Rover 15/05/74 Wang Ping |
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Mafia Girls 29/05/74 Ed Ross |
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Dance of Ecstasy 20/06/74 Brandon Chase |
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Sex is Beautiful 24/06/74 Alain Lavalle |
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Tis Pity She’s a Whore 23/07/74 Givseppe Patroni Griffi |
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Turkish Delight 24/07/74 Paul Verhoeven |
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Con Man and Kung Fu Kid 13/08/74 Wu Ma |
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As the Naked Wind from the Sea 11/09/74 Gunnar Hogland |
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Super Chick 19/09/74 Ed Forsyth |
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Student Nurses 08/10/74 Stephanie Rothman |
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Virgin Witch 08/10/74 Ray Austin |
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Cool it Carol 30/10/74 Pete Walker |
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So much Naked Tenderness 30/10/74 Gunther Hendez |
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Thriller 25/11/74 Alex Fridolinski |
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Percy’s Progress 17/12/74 Ralph Thomas |
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1975 |
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The Seduction of Inga 02/01/75 Joseph W. Sarno |
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Heavy Traffic 29/01/75 Ralph Bakshi |
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Loves Of A French Pussycat 30/01/75 Hans Billian |
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Bang Bang Gang or Gun Girls 04/02/75 Van Guylder |
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Naked Countess 06/02/75 Not listed |
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Kung Fu Girl (None But The Brave) 18/02/75 Lo Wei |
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When Tae Kwon Do Strikes 18/02/75 Huane Feng |
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Monk 25/02/75 Ada Kyrou |
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Deadly Weapons 04/03/75 Doris Wishman |
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Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat 18/03/75 Robert Taylor |
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Groove Tube 24/03/75 Ken Shapiro |
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Sex after Six 25/03/75 Hubert Frank |
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Cold Blooded Beast 24/04/75 Fernando Di Leo |
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Glory Stompers 29/04/75 Anthony M. Lansa |
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Extreme Close-Up 07/05/75 Jeannot Szware |
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The Unsatisfied 23/05/75 Jean-Marie Pallardy |
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Sex is for Pleasure 26/05/75 Not listed |
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Pieces of Dreams 22/07/75 Daniel Haller |
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Without a Stitch 24/07/75 Annelise Meineche |
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Act of Vengeance (The Violator) 24/07/75 Robert Kelljan |
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Danish Bed & Board 25/07/75 John Hilbard |
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Servicer 25/08/75 Leon Capatonos |
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The Violator (Act of Vengeance)(Rape Squad) 28/08/75 Robert Kelljan |
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Games that Lovers Play 10/09/75 Malcolm Leigh |
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It's Alive 26/09/75 Larry Cohen |
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Guess Who’s Sleeping with Us Tonight 01/10/75 Alex Neve |
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Petersen 07/10/75 Tim Burstall |
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World without Shame 29/10/75 Donovan Winter |
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Don't Deliver Us From Evil 19/11/75 Claude Maurice Muller |
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The Amorous Milkman 30/12/75 Derren Nesbitt |
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1976 |
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All about Women 05/01/76 Claude Pierson |
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Bed Partners 28/01/76 Not listed |
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Black Decameron 23/02/76 Not listed |
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Nudes In the Sun 02/03/76 Werner Kunz |
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Arabian Nights 04/03/76 Pier Paolo Pasolini |
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Once is not Enough 23/03/76 Guy Green |
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Bed of a Thousand Pleasures 25/03/76 Anthony M. Dawson |
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Keep it up Downstairs 05/05/76 Robert Young |
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Sins Within The Family 11/08/76 Bruno Gaburro |
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Intimacy 09/09/76 Marcio Vicaro |
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Clockwork Banana 10/09/76 Jean F. Dany |
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Life Size 20/09/76 Luis Berlanga |
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Bummer 06/10/76 William Allen Castleman |
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Glastonbury Fayre 11/10/76 Not listed |
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Undergraduate Girls 13/10/76 Michele Tartanini |
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Linda Lovelace for President 18/10/76 Claudio Guzmani |
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It could Happen to You 21/10/76 Stanley Long |
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Not Tonight Darling 16/11/76 Anthony Sloman |
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1977 |
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I Will If You Will 11/01/77 Nello Rossatti |
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Come Play with Me 01/03/77 George Harrison Marks |
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Super Dragon 25/04/77 Tommy Loo Chun |
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Emily 02/05/77 Henry Herbert |
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Emmanuelle 2 11/05/77 Francis Giacobetti |
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Young Lady Chatterley 23/05/77 Alan Roberts |
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I am Sexy 25/05/77 Francis Leroi |
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The Perfect Arrangement 24/08/77 Ted Leversuch |
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Alvin Purple 25/10/77 Tim Burstall |
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Rosemary’s Baby 02/11/77 Roman Polanski |
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First Time with Feeling 21/11/77 Jacques Baratier |
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Next Stop - Greenwich Village 08/12/77 Paul Mazursky |
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1978 |
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Naughty Nurses 21/02/78 Don Edmonds |
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Looking For Mr. Goodbar 08/03/78 Richard Brooks |
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Escort Girls 14/03/78 Donovan Winter |
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Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle 04/04/78 Brunello Rondi |
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The Hills have Eyes 05/04/78 Wes Craven |
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Teenage Hitchhikers 17/04/78 Gerri Sedley |
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Black Emmanuelle 2 (The New Black Emmanuelle) 24/04/78 Albert Thomas |
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Take an Easy Ride 08/05/78 Not listed |
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Goodbye Emmanuelle 18/05/78 Francois Lettelier |
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Inhibition 24/05/78 Paul Price |
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Confessions of a Male Escort 09/06/78 Not listed |
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The Erotic Adventures of Pinnocchio 20/07/78 Corey Alan |
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Lust Seekers 13/09/78 Russ Meyer |
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The Rise & Rise Of Casanova 14/09/78 Francois Legrand |
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Seven Women for Satan 10/11/78 Armand Tabiteau |
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What’s Up Super Doc 20/12/78 Derek Ford |
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1979 |
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The Visitor 10/01/79 Not listed |
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Lennie 23/01/79 Bob Fosse |
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Bilities 28/02/79 David Hamilton |
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Red 02/04/79 Not listed |
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In Praise of Older Women 06/04/79 George Kaczenoen |
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Emmanuel and the White Slave Trade 07/05/79 Joe D’Amato |
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Queen of Sex 07/05/79 Albert Moore |
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Hardcore Life 25/06/79 Paul Schrader |
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Can I Come Too? 12/11/79 Not listed |
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The Groove Tube 18/12/79 Not listed |
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1980 |
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Death Game 18/01/80 Not listed |
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La Luna 24/03/80 Bernardo Bertocucci |
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Night Games 21/04/80 Roger Vadim |
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Sex with the Stars 27/06/80 Not listed |
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The Great British Striptease 14/08/80 Not listed |
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Jungle Burger 19/08/80 Not listed |
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I’m Not Feeling Myself To-Night 21/08/80 Joseph McGrath |
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Don't Answer The Phone 02/12/80 Robert Hammer |
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1981 |
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Caligulas Hot Nights 19/02/81 Roberto Monterro |
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Confessions of a Naked Virgin 24/03/81 Eric Hofbauer |
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Emmanuelle and The Cannibals 16/04/81 Bruno Corbucci |
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Caligula 03/11/81 Bob Guccione |
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1983 |
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Flesh Gordon 09/09/83 William Osco-Homand Zeieham |
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1984 |
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Emmanuelle 4 14/06/84 Not listed |
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The Key 16/07/84 Tinto Brass |
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Bolero 14/12/84 John Derek |
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1987 |
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Working Girls 12/08/87 Lizzie Borden |
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1991 |
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Whore 09/08/91 Ken Russell |
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|
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1993 |
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The Bad Lieutenant 29/01/93 Abel Ferrara |
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1994 |
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U.F.O. - The Movie 07/02/94 Tony Dow |
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Lake Consequence 13/05/94 Rafael Eisenman |
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1997 |
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Preaching To The Perverted 28/10/97 Stuart Urban |
