The European Commission has posted a montage of sex scenes from
European films on a new video-sharing Web site, drawing criticism
from some lawmakers who described it as "soft porn."
The Commission, which is the executive branch of the European Union,
launched its own channel on YouTube last week called EUTube, saying
it wanted to spread messages about topics such as climate change and
human rights.
{YouTubeVideo id=koRlFnBlDH0}
Commission spokesman Martin Selmayr said the sex scene clips — drawn
from award-winning films such as "Amelie" and "Bad Education" —
highlighted Europe's tradition of rich cinema.
The 44-second clip — titled "Film Lovers Will Love This!" — was
posted last week on EUTube. It has been viewed more than 280,000
times, far outpacing the second most popular video on the EUTube
site, a humanitarian aid clip.
Eighteen couples, both straight and gay, are shown having sex in
bedrooms, kitchens and restaurant bathrooms. As the groans build to a
climatic finish, the phrase "Let's come together" flashes on the
screen.
Selmayr said Tuesday he had not received any complaints about the
video, which was presented at the Berlin Film Festival in February as
part of a four-video media campaign.
But EU lawmaker Maciej Giertych of Poland, from the conservative
League of Polish Families, accused the commission of using "immoral
methods" of promotion, according to the British Broadcasting Corp.
Godfrey Bloom of Britain's euro-skeptic U.K. Independence Party also
criticized the video, calling it "soft porn" and "cheap, tawdry and
tacky."
The commission's foray onto the popular video-sharing Web site, he
said, "was like watching an elderly relative trying to be cool: very
embarrassing."
The steamy clip, as well as the overall concept of EUTube, has
generated heated exchanges on the channel's comment forum with
opinions divided between outrage and admiration.
