Fahrenheit 9/11 Distributors to Challenge R Rating

US distributors of Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary, have hired the former governor of New York Mario Cuomo to appeal against the R rating given to the film by America's film classification agency.

The Motion Picture Association of America, the industry body which also provides ratings advice, decided that the film's "violent and disturbing images and language" meant that it should only be seen by under-17s when accompanied by an adult.

The distributors, a consortium which includes Lions Gate Films and Harvey Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure Group, want to secure a PG-13 rating, which would allow teenagers to attend on their own, and have hired Mr Cuomo to represent them to the MPAA's appeals board.

Lions Gate president Tom Ortenberg told Variety: "We think it's important for all Americans to see this movie, particularly the teenagers who may be invited or required to fight in this or the next war."

Since the film was dropped by original studio Disney and bought independently by Miramax chiefs the Weinstein brothers, its new distributors do not belong to the MPAA, and subsequently they are not bound to carry their classification.

However, the alternative course of action - releasing the movie without a rating at all - would probably deter some cinemas from screening the film which is already the subject of hostile campaigning.

Indeed, the fuss surrounding the movie shows no sign of dying down; a New York premiere on Monday night attracted Leonardo DiCaprio, John Turturro and Yoko Ono, among other celebrities of a liberal persuasion.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is released in the US on June 25, and in the UK later in the summer.