A Rome judge overruled national film censors on Monday by deciding that anyone under 14 years should be barred from seeing Mel Gibson`s violent new movie Apocalypto. Italy is the only nation in the world where the film, a graphic portrayal of the bloody end of the Maya civilisation in South America, can be watched by cinema-goers of all ages. It contains scenes showing severed heads, stabbings, throats being cut, rape, torture and the massacre of women and children. Parents` associations and consumer groups were enraged by the decision of national censors to place no restrictions on the movie, which came out in Italy on Friday. In America, where it was released last month last month, the film cannot be seen by anyone under the age of 17. Other countries have put the bar at ages between 15 and 18. Consumer association Codacon immediately demanded an urgent ruling from the regional court of the Lazio region around Rome, saying that because of the “extreme violence“ it was unsuitable for minors. Judge Italo Riggio on Friday accepted the group`s position as valid and said under-14s should be prevented from seeing the movie, at least until January 17 when a full court hearing would be held. The decision was welcomed by Antonio Marziale of the Observatory on the Rights of Minors although he said the question of what the board of censors existed for was still unanswered. Codacons President Carlo Rienzo said it was now up to the government to see that the Rome judge`s ruling was observed. Apocalypto was the second most popular film during over the weekend, being beaten only by the new James Bond film Casino Royale. On its first day of screening several teenagers in Rome were able to see it despite a request by Culture Minister Walter Rutelli that cinemas “discourage“ unaccompanied youngsters. Psychologists have united in condemning the lack of any age restrictions on the film. Anna Oliverio Ferraris, lecturer in child psychology at Rome`s La Sapienza university, said parents needed such indications so as to look after their children`s psychological well-being. “Youngsters are completely passive at the cinema and the messages they receive are imprinted in their memories. They spark emotional reactions that often have long-term effects,“ she said.

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