Sacha Baron Cohen’s provocative new film Brüno is to be toned down for younger audiences after it was originally awarded an 18 certificate.

It is the first time that two separate versions of the same film have been on simultaneous cinema release in Britain. The move suggests that Baron Cohen’s willingness to say and do almost anything in character in pursuit of new shocks has pragmatic limits after all. The British comedian’s mock documentary about a gay Austrian fashion journalist trying to become famous in America has lost one minute and 50 seconds of unacceptable sexual content to placate the British Board of Film Classification and earn a 15 rating.

The original cut of the film was released last Friday and has already grossed £5 million here, the best figure achieved by an 18 certificate film, making it the most popular film at British cinemas last weekend. It also topped the box office in the US but commentators there pointed to a 39 per cent slump in takings between Friday and Saturday as evidence that it will struggle to stay there.

Part fashion world satire, part critique of celebrity culture, part exposé of homophobic attitudes in America and the Middle East, part excuse for a lot of ridiculous Lycra outfits and mangled German phrases, Brüno was one of the most eagerly awaited films of the summer. b

However, its box office chances suffered last month when the BBFC ruled that strong sexual content in three scenes made it unsuitable for the 15 certificate needed to generate a blockbuster audience.

Brüno has already endured several last-minute alterations. A re-edit in the US saved it from a disastrous NC-17 rating, which would have deterred most American cinemas from screening it.

And, shortly before its release, a scene involving Michael Jackson’s sister La Toya was removed “out of respect” for the Jackson family.

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