La Última Tentación de Cristo R4

[arturo_gtz]

Se dice por ahí que la edición Criterion está censurada...

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
Released April 2000 by The Criterion Collection

Here's an interesting one. While most cuts usually involve the removal of a shots or frames of a film, with today's current technology, we're starting to see more alternations made to the film long past post-production via the use of visual or audio trickery. Certainly, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST is not a film that would immediately jump into your mind when thinking of these types of alterations, but lo and behold, the current DVD release from Criterion does has been a bit "visually obscured."

In chapter 10 during the "John The Baptist" scene there are several worshippers dancing and convulsing naked around a river where John is preaching. Beginning at 48 minutes, 44 seconds, there is a pan from the right to the left across a congregation of people standing in a line. Way on the right side of the shot, a noticeable black blur flickers over one man's genitals. Guess it was a bit too racy...

Since Criterion is highly regarded as a leading film preservationist, and so far has not commented on "cover up," we can only speculate that this visual alternation may have been made either by Universal, the rights holder of the film, or during the theatrical release itself. Given all the controversy surrounding the film, it is entirely possible that such an alternation was made to secure an R-Rating and not the dreaded NC-17. Still, with no official word from any party, we'll just have to hope the Lord works in mysterious ways and an answer is delivered someday...