A film on one of the first sex change operations conducted in the world is considered too hot for Malaysians to handle.

Distributors United International Pictures Malaysia said the film, 'Danish Girl', released across the Causeway last month, is banned in Malaysia.

“'Danish Girl' was banned by the Censorship Board,” UIP Malaysia marketing executive Michelle Ng told Malaysiakini in an email, without elaborating.

It was earlier reported that the film was not on the board’s ‘approved films list’ on its website.

The film tells the story of Copenhagen artist Einer Wegener’s preparation to undergo a male to female sex reassignment surgery, with support from his wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander).

Set in 1926, the Tom Hooper film follows Wegenar (Eddie Redmayne) as he discovers his interest in the female appearance, after standing in for a female model to be painted as a female.

It is rated ‘R’ in the United States – for those aged 17 and above unless accompanied by a guardian - and ‘R21’ in Singapore, for viewers aged 21 and above.

Scenes featuring nudity

According to website Kids In Mind, which helps parents make film-watching decisions for their children, ‘Danish Girl’ has various scenes featuring full-frontal nudity and discussions on sexuality.

Last year the Malaysian transgender community suffered a blow when the Federal Court overturned a Court of Appeal finding that a Negri Sembilan syariah enactment banning cross dressing is unconstitutional.

The enactment, which only applies to Muslims and exist in several other states besides Negri Sembilan, puts them at risk of arrest and impedes their social and economic well-being, the transgender community says.

Last month, Singapore filmmaker Tan Pin Pin pulled out her film ‘Singapore GaGa’ from the Singapore-Malaysia cultural fest Titian Budaya after Malaysian censors demanded she remove a scene where someone is called ‘binatang’ (animal).

The censors said the scene might lead to public unrest.

Another of Tan’s films, ‘To Singapore With Love’, was banned in Singapore but allowed to be screened in Malaysia, at the Pusat Komas’ Freedom Film Fest.

‘To Singapore With Love’ features political exiles from Singapore.