Walerian Borowczyk'sdeeply controversial, La Bete (The Beast) is to get its first screening in the UK after 25 years when it is shown as part of an X-rated season at Leicester's Phoenix Arts in September.
The Polish director's 1975 film was banned by British censors because of its highly explicit sex scenes but the uncut version was finally given an 18 certificate in February 2001. A censored version of the film was given a video release by the BBFC in 1988 but the uncut version debuting at the Phoenix contains an extra 12 minutes of footage.
Other films showing at the Newarke Street cinema are Bertolucci's Last Tango In Paris, Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, Patrice Chereau's Intimacy and Virginie Despentes' Baise-Moi.
A spokesman Phoenix Arts said "Five years ago we would not have been able to see these films. What has changed? What has changed is the BBFC, is it lightening up?"
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