Sanctuary

What’s it about?

A quirky drama thriller about Hal, successor to his father’s hotel empire and Rebecca, a dominatrix. When Hal attempts to discontinue his long-running sexual arrangement with Rebecca, she threatens to release compromising material about him. A powerplay ensues.

The facts

• Directed by Zachary Wigon
• Runtime: 96 minutes
• Screening in New Zealand as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival 2023

Why did it get this rating?

Sex and sexual references

The film contains sex scenes that involve BDSM. BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism) is sexual activity that can be dangerous. There is a dominant-submissive dynamic between Hal and Rebecca, with the female character as the “dom”.

There are multiple references to sex and sexual material as sexual tension infuses their discussions. While the sex scenes are not graphic (we don’t see the characters naked), some of these sexual interactions have dangerous elements: we see a knife held to the throat of a character, and a character being tied to the bed post and unable to escape.

Older teenagers may have the knowledge and awareness to understand the conversations and dynamic as being part of a sexual fetish, but this interaction will likely confuse younger viewers who may read it as cruel.

Offensive language

“F**k” is regularly used in casual conversation. Lighter offensive language such as “b**ch”, “d*ck”, and “ass” are also heard. The language is used in a way that is humiliating and at times very sexually explicit. This feeds into the dominant-submissive arrangement between the two characters, which may shock younger viewers.

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Sanctuary on the Whānau Mārama – New Zealand International Film Festival website