The controversial Oscar-nominated film, Amores Perros, has been passed without cuts by the censor despite protests from the RSPCA which claims it will glamorise dog fighting.
The film, by first-time director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, has become a cause célèbre since it cleared the board at Critics' Week in Cannes. Fears were raised that it would never be shown here because of a 21-second scene in which a rottweiler and a pit bull terrier simulate a fight to the death in a Mexico City gambling den.
British distributors were wary because of the strict provisions of the obscure Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, which outlaws goading of animals for the camera, despite protests that it would be a national embarrassment if a film which has won more than 20 international prizes was not shown here.
However, after prolonged examination of the film, and with pressure building from such distinguished directors as Stephen Frears to have the law changed, the British Board of Film Classification has ruled that the scene does not break the law.
But the RSPCA said that it was "extremely concerned and disappointed" by the ruling, which it said "could contribute to the glamorisation of a horrifically cruel underground activity we spend a large part of our resources trying to combat. Only this week four men have been jailed because of our investigations".
Chief inspector Mike Butcher, who has led special operations against dog fighters for 15 years, viewed the film, and although he conceded that the fight scene "was not used for gratuitous shock value, it was just too realistic for my liking, which raises the question of whether there was cruelty involved".
The BBFC, in its judgment, said it was happy no animals were hurt or abused during the filming. This has not satisfied the RSPCA, however, whose spokesman insisted that the animals must have "been goaded to fury in order to fight".
Gonzalez Inarritu claims that he went to extreme lengths to make sure no animals were harmed, even sacking one handler who he felt was willing to cut corners. "I lost so much sleep over it. We used plastic muzzles on the dogs. They just did what came naturally, they played. The camera lies, we made it more dramatic than it was."
