The Movie and Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB) bared its fangs anew and cut right through the gut of indie film “Bayaw” when they gave it an “X” rating last Aug. 27.

An “X” classification, according to the MTRCB’s guidelines, means the material is “not suitable for public viewing or exhibition.”

The tag applies to films that it said "as a whole appeals to prurient interest and satisfies only the craving for gratuitous sex and/or violence."

Starring Paolo Rivero and Janvier Daily, “Bayaw” takes its cue from Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” as it dissects the story of two men---both neither gay—who somehow ended up as lovers venting their sexual frustrations on each other.

“Bayaw” was first screened as part of the 5th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

It was one of the films shortlisted to take part in the first Cinemalaya-NETPAC World Cinema, a sidebar competition formed by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that caters to independent producers who premiere their films in the festival.

The film, produced by Climax Films and directed by Monti Parungao, will be submitted again to the MTRCB for a second review on Sept. 1, a day before it opens to theaters nationwide.