Passages, the romance drama from Ira Sachs, earned decent reviews out of the 2023 Sundance Film Fest.

Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos (also known for to NC-17 drama “Blue Is the Warmest Color”) star in the love triangle drama, which the MPA gave NC-17 rating due to nudity and sex scenes.

However, those scenes may be explicit, but they are not exploitative or pornographic.

Distributor Mubi and Sachs rebuked the rating and Passages is opening in theaters unrated.

“Passages” is the latest in a long line of films cursed with the NC-17 rating, prohibiting anyone under age 17 from seeing it.

Gay Directors. By Emanuel Levy (Columbia University Press).

Last year, it was Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe drama “Blonde” that made headlines for its NC-17 rating. Despite the controversial certification, star Ana de Armas still earned Best Actress Oscar nomination.