Do the ratings highlight a difference in UK and US cultures?

Here in the UK, Vera Drake was given a 12A certificate (for "abortion theme") where a child younger than 12 may be admitted if accompanied by an adult. This is the commercially lucrative, wide audience category where, similar to the PG-13, parents often bring younger members along for the blockbuster tentpole movies, which Mike Leigh films clearly are not. In the US, the film received an R rating where under 17s may be granted access to the film if accompanied by an adult. The R rating is generally perceived as an adult category, similar to the 15 and 18 certificates, and on average less parents will be willing to bring younger members along.

So essentially the UK deemed the handling of the theme of abortion, although inherently provocative, mature enough for the early younger viewers, basing its decision on the BBFC 12A guideline, "Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers". The US decision would appear counter to this view basing their decision on "depiction of strong thematic material" suggesting that some themes, no matter how they are explored, are no-go areas for younger audiences. Does this highlight a centre-left, centre-right gap between the public opinion of both countries? Or just a gap in the view of their censoring bodies? Perhaps it points to a differing support of core conservative values including religious motivation? Or is it simply a case of a film that lies on the borderline of what is acceptable for both audiences, and on different days each censor could have taken the opposite view? Of course the acid test is your own view : would you feel comfortable taking along younger members, if they happened to show interest in this kind of moral drama?







"And no regrets?"