The French drama Blue is the Warmest Color opens in U.S. theaters October 25, but you won’t be able to watch it in Idaho, at least not on the big screen.
Films like this one would usually find a home at The Flicks Theatre, but not this time.
Carole Skinner, who owns the Flicks, told The Hollywood Reporter, “It isn’t because we’re prudes.”
The reason the theater isn't showing the film is because of the its NC-17 rating and a state law that’s tied to alcohol licenses. Under Idaho Statute 23-614, the Flicks can’t sell beer and wine while also showing a sexually explicit film.
Here’s what the law says.
(e) The showing of films, still pictures, electronic reproductions, or other visual reproductions depicting: (i) Acts or simulated acts of sexual intercourse, masturbation, sodomy, bestiality, oral copulation, flagellation or any sexual acts which are prohibited by law. (ii) Any person being touched, caressed or fondled on the breast, buttocks, anus or genitals. (iii) Scenes wherein a person displays the vulva or the anus or the genitals. (iv) Scenes wherein artificial devices or inanimate objects are employed to portray any of the prohibited activities described in this section.
Blue is the Warmest Color won the Palme d'Or award when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Abdellatif Kechiche's film is an adaptation of Julie Maroh’s graphic novel about a young lesbian couple.
The Boise Weekly’s George Prentice saw the film at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and wrote “The close-ups of the lovemaking are remarkable and never once feel dirty or exploitative, and the performances of leads Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux are mysterious, wonderful and, above all, courageous."
Here's the film's official trailer.
Skinner told The Hollywood Reporterthe Flicks has never shown any NC-17 rated films. But in an email to KBSX she explained; “we can have NC-17 movies in our rental shop. It is just the combination of alcohol in a public place while viewing certain material that is against the law.”
She adds the rating is “our best guide to what we choose or do not choose to play.” So for this particular film, Idaho movie-goers will have to see Blue elsewhere. Theaters in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other large cities plan to screen the film later in October.