Norway's recently established Board of Film Classification Appeals, Filmklagenemnda, has lifted the ban on local commercial exhibition of Japanese director Nagisa Oshima's erotic classic In The Realm Of The Senses.

The board granted the 1976 film a commercial exhibition permit, citing its artistic qualities as the reason for lifting the ban. Oshima's film has previously screened only in non-commercial, membership-only film societies or theatres in Norway.

Distributor Arthaus, which has local rights to the film, was denied a distribution licence two years ago by the Norwegian Board of Film Classification, Statens Filmtilsyn. It applied to the appeals board, Filmklagenemnda, when it was established last month. Arthaus is now planning a commercial re-release of In The Realm Of The Senses in Norway's biggest cities.