A local film featuring references to opium, nudity and a severed head has landed on the desks of Westmorland and Furness councillors — who must now watch it in full before deciding whether it is suitable for children.
The documentary, Voyage East, is a 74-minute film by Little Urswick filmmaker Steve Wharton tracing the journey of Ulverston-born explorer Sir John Barrow to Vietnam and China as part of the Macartney Embassy in 1792–94.
The film has not been rated by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Under the Licensing Act 2003, that means elected councillors on the Westmorland and Furness Licensing Sub-Committee must view the entire film themselves before it can be shown publicly — and then decide its certificate.
Mr Wharton applied for a U certificate — suitable for all ages. But council officers have recommended a PG (Parental Guidance) rating instead after flagging a series of moments they say make it unsuitable for a blanket universal classification.
These include spoken references to opium, gunpowder, dysentery and typhoid, references to war and a "gunship of war", nudity in a painting, and — at 52 seconds into the opening section — the words "head cut off."
Officers noted that PG guidance from the BBFC states a film "should generally not unsettle a child aged around eight, although parents and caregivers should be aware that some scenes may be unsuitable for more sensitive children."
A report prepared for a meeting said the officer had considered the guidance on:
- Drugs: References to illegal drugs or drug misuse should be brief and carry a suitable cautionary message.
- Nudity: There may be nudity with no sexual context.
- Violence: Violence will be mild, with more impactful moments permitted if justified by context. Injury detail, including sight of blood, should be brief.
The film itself tells the story of one of south Cumbria's most celebrated historical figures.
Sir John Barrow was born in Ulverston in 1764 and went on to become Second Secretary to the Admiralty, a founder member of the Royal Geographical Society, and a driving force behind British polar exploration. The Hoad Monument on the hill above Ulverston was built in his honour in 1850.
Voyage East retraces Barrow's extraordinary early journey east with the Macartney Embassy — Britain's first diplomatic mission to China — which set off in 1792 in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to open up trade with the Qing emperor.
The Licensing Sub-Committee is due to meet on 21 July to make its decision. No dates or venues for public screenings have yet been confirmed by the filmmaker.
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