"Film Makes Abnormal Public"
The ombudsman calls it "a borderline case": the fact that SRF broadcast the film "Wetlands" a second time in August was unwise.
Because it was at least questionable whether the film was not contrary to public morality. On a Wednesday evening in August, the film "Wetlands" was on the program of SRF 1 television for the second time at 10:55 p.m. It is the film adaptation of the "scandal novel" by Charlotte Roche, which was cheered by 3,500 people at the opening of the Locarno TI festival in 2013.
The broadcast on SRF 1 drew less applause - the ombudsman received complaints from a total of 48 people. A first broadcast about a year earlier had not yet triggered any reactions. The film was morally and ethically indefensible and could corrupt the population, some of the complainants now criticized. The film should have been broadcast, if at all, only after midnight, others complained. It was a scandal that fee money was spent on such films - the SRG should be punished for this, demanded one viewer.
Ombudsman sends out warning signal
As ombudsman, he cannot punish the Swiss Radio and Television Company (SRG), he now states in his final report published on Tuesday. "I cannot forbid SRF to broadcast such films." He can only send warning signals. The ombudsman shows "great understanding" for the complaints. The film "Wetlands" undoubtedly had a pornographic touch. "I found the film to be artistically exaggerated and dressed up pornography," he says. Without any doubt, this is a borderline case, the ombudsman writes further.
Respecting artistic freedom, he said, speaks in favor of showing even such a film on television. "But it is at least questionable whether it is not contrary to public morality." He said the film not only makes intimate things public, but also kinky things. "Therefore, in my opinion, it was unwise for Fernsehen SRF to broadcast the film a second time." (SDA)
