Is this the most controversial movie ever made? I Spit On Your Grave: the most unedited version to date set for UK release

Brighton, UK - Ultimate female revenge movie? Or the blatant glamorisation of violence towards women? The original and most unedited version ever released of the controversial “rape and revenge” film of the 1970’s written and directed by Meir Zarchi is set for release this September in connection with Screen Entertainment and published by 101 Films – all sales and distribution is to be handled by Lace Digital Media Sales.

I Spit on Your Grave, notorious for its graphic and violent depiction of a gang rape scene ever filmed (which also features a man with learning difficulties) was branded a "video nasty" in the UK and it appeared on the public prosecutions’ list of prosecutable movies until 2001, when a heavily-cut version of the movie was released with an 18 certificate. Many countries, such as Ireland, Norway and Iceland banned this movie altogether, claiming that the it "glorified violence against women".

101 Films has been granted permission by the BBFC to release the original and most complete version ever released, including previously unseen footage. I Spit on Your Grave will be available on HD Blu-ray Dual format for the first time.

The news of the release will likley spark outrage amongst womens rights groups which maintain that the film glamorises violence against women and scorn the explicit nature of the rape scenes. However, the film (previously titled “Day Of The Woman”) is also championed by many as a “Misunderstood Feminist Film” which empowers main female character as she enacts her brutal “revenge” on the men who assaulted her. The debate rages on to this day and fans throughout the world remain loyal to the film and its director with Facebook groups forming bloggers in its honor and eagerly awaiting the most complete release yet.

To accompany the feature the DVD will be presented in a special edition box complete with 24 page Special Collectors Edition booklet and a Collector’s Edition A2 sized double-sided poster. A video interview with the director Meir Zarchi has been filmed exclusively for the UK market and is something that both lovers of the film and campaigners against it will be intrigued to watch as Zarchi puts his points across about his contentious creation.

The campaign will be backed up by an extensive marketing and PR effort.

Lace Digital Media Sales will be handling the sales for the title and distributing it alongside Sony DADC UK. Andy Lyon, Sales Director at LDMS comments:

“We are very excited to be working on such an influential and world famous film. Love it or hate it this remains one of the most controversial films ever made. This edition will feature exclusive disc extras, a free poster, 24 page booklet, never before seen photos from Meir Zarchi’s personal collection and of course it will be the fullest edition of the film ever published in the UK. The special edition will make the latest release irresistible for the thousands of “I Spit On Your Grave” fans across the UK. It is also very exciting that the UK should be the first market in the world to release a Blu Ray version of the film. This is a very commercial project for 101 Films and we have high expectations for the release, especially in light of the remake due later in the year from Anchor Bay at UK Cinemas.”

For more information or review copies please contact Jennie@capricornpr.com  as review copies are now available.

Film Synopsis:

The film follows Jennifer, a writer who is working on a new novel and needs to get out of the city to finish it. She hires a riverside apartment in upstate New York to finish her novel, attracting the attention of a number of rowdy male locals. They catch Jennifer one day and strip her naked for the village idiot (Matthew) and rape her. Jennifer is later attacked and raped a further two times by the four degenerates, and her novel is also destroyed. But Jennifer slowly recovers and in her now-twisted, psychotic mind, she then begins to seek revenge on the four men who raped her.

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