No nipples please, but any amount of blood-letting is fine. That is how the Thai film censorship board operates, much to the frustration not only of the moviemakers but also the moviegoers.
Censorship plays a big role in the Motion Picture Act of 1930, which is still in use today. And police dominance in the censorship board was further reinforced by the military dictatorship in 1973. Subsequent amendments to the act have failed to dilute the power of the police and, as a result, the nipple-phobia mindset prevails.
For more than a decade, the Thai movie industry has been campaigning to get the government to replace censorship with a ratings system.
Now, more than ever, changes are necessary.
The industry itself is burgeoning, with audiences at home and beyond warming to the improved quality. A new generation of talent has emerged, with some very impressive movies that have won international recognition - Tears of the Black Tiger and Blissfully Yours both scooped awards at the Cannes Film Festival.
At the same time, Thailand has become a popular location for foreign movies, such as The Beach