This anti-domestic violence ad starring Keira Knightley and directed by Atonement’s Joe Wright has been banned in the U.K., for fairly obvious reasons.
Advertising censors are refusing to allow it to be broadcast unless key scenes are cut.
“The Cut” was made for the charity Women’s Aid, and launched in cinemas at the beginning of this month.
Charities working to combat domestic violence branded the decision by Clearcast, the ad approval body, “pathetic”, arguing that, in banning the advert, it is shielding the public from the reality of domestic violence.
“It seems pathetic. It is really important to raise awareness about domestic violence, and TV gets into people’s homes” said Sandra Horely, chief executive of Refuge, a charity that provides accommodation for women and children escaping from domestic violence.
“The reason we are still in conversation with Clearcast about it is because they believe it is too violent,” said Chris Hirst, managing director of Grey London Advertising Agency, which created The Cut. “Part of the point of the campaign is to raise awareness about domestic violence, and spark debate, which the advert has done, even if it doesn’t make it on to TV.” [Independent]
Whatever, you can spout your “just raisin’ awareness” cliché if you want, but all ads like this do is convince me that the the people who make them are creepy and weird. It’s like filming a guy who rapes a baby and poops on his dog, and then at the end an announcer comes on and says “don’t rape a baby and poop on your dog.” Really? That was your solution? Look, if you want money for your charity, just film Sarah McLachlan singing to a sad puppy, you can have everything in my wallet.
This is a commercial Michael Bay made for Commonwealth Bank across the pond. Er, underneath the pond (whatever you call Australia). It ponders the question, “What if Michael Bay made a commercial for Commonwealth Bank?” It’s not bad. Overall, I like Bay a lot more as the star of commercials than as a movie director. They should do this with all crappy directors.
You know what I love about Japan? Even commercials for children’s toys (or tv shows, maybe?) involve visible erections and terrifying surrealistic nightmare fuel. Yeah, so… Sorry, but I don’t have any idea what this is. I tried to look it up, but the commercial appears to be for something called “inochi” and “inochi” apparently means “life, spirit and nature” in Japanese. Kind of broad. Anyway, feel free to weigh in if you’ve got any knowledge on the subject. The more Japanese stuff I see the more I wonder if Takashi Miike is just the Japanese Ron Howard.
UPDATE: According to my erudite readers, this is from the most recent Takashi Murakami art exhibition.
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Oi, da Staf’ ‘eah. So da ovva day, dese German cunts come up to me an dey’s loike, “Oi, Staf’, ‘ow’d you loike ta do da fock’n commersho for dese fock’n cahs?”
An a course Oy’s loike, “Oi, if it’s a flash sazz wagon you cunts is troyin’ ta sell, den you ‘as come ta da roight place, now ‘aven’t you?”
An so den Oy invoites dem down ta film whoilst Oy’s droivin fru billboards an doin’ fock’n jumps an aw dat - just your av’rage Fursday for da Staf’, innit. An da result is what you see heah, donnit. Now, da Staf knows what your finkin’: “Oi, Staf’, what ‘appened to dat fit bird in da rolla shoes?” Well, whoilst da Staf’ ain’t one ta kiss an’ tell, long story short, Oy knobbed ‘er. Now, Oy donnow whoy dey ain’ put dat paht in da bloody commersho, now doesn’ dey? When Oy first found out da knobbin weren’ in dere, Oy wiz so angry dat Oy took moy shir’ off an pulled down dis buildin wif moy bare ‘ands. But den later after Oy’s calmed down a bit, Oy felt bad. So dat noight, Oy rebuilt it.
[Thanks to Justin for the tip]
Here we see the SAG/Golden Globe-winning House star shilling for Polaroid back in the 80s. You’d have had to be blind not to see this guy’s talent. Look how many emotions he went through in a 30-second commercial! You can’t teach that.
After the jump, see him in a cigar commercial in which a cigar isn’t just a cigar. “Anyone who doesn’t buy Panama must have a cigar missing.” Translation? People who don’t smoke Panamas have a vagina.
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