Film and Freedom: Movie Censorship in the Philippines

Film and Freedom is the first book of its kind to be published in the Philippines.

Beginning with our own history of film censorship, with cinematic developments abroad as background, it discusses extensively the varied issues affecting the medium and, consequently, the legions of moviegoing audiences. Here analyzed in a lucid, frank and dispassionate fashion are such controversial subjects as sex and pornography, conflicting religious themes, crime, violence, and equally explosive questions like art and police powers, democracy and censorship.

For its amount of information and fundamental ideas this monumental work recommends itself to be read by the general public. To those directly involved in the motion picture industry – whether in movie production, film distribution or theater exhibition – it provides an authoritative account of past and present policies of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures, and therefore serves as an invaluable reference. To students and professors of mass communications this book is must reading for a broader understanding of a powerful medium, while those specializing in cinematographic art, particularly film stars, directors and script writers, will find it a rich and beneficial discourse on principles and concepts.

But what may attain for this volume the stature of a classic in local film literature is the philosophy on censorship that the author advocates with flair and conviction. Dr. De Vega visualizes the sure and steady evolution of the Filipino people into a society of liberal and intelligent citizens capable of absorbing, without harsh effect, the impact of total exposure to all types of films. It is a novel view that is hardly expected of the man who wields the ultimate authority on what should be scissored out of all movies shown in this archipelago.

Published in 1975 by Vega

287 pages