The film, Love, was booed at the Cannes film festival in May and has been heavily criticised by critics.
Love, features non-simulated 3D scenes of sex and was consequently awarded an 18 age certificate - a rare rating in France.
However the film's director and producer say this decision reflects the influence of conservative religious groups in the country - both have appealed to the state watchdog, Conseil d'Etat.
Following the over-ruling of the age 16 viewing certificate to age 18, the producer, Vincent Maravao tweeted: "In France it is now forbidden to love if you are under the age of 18."
Speaking in the French paper Liberation, he continued: "We must now wait for the ruling of the Conseil d'Etat.
"We will then know what kind of country France has become."
A legal challenge to the 16 age certificate was made by a right-wing group, Promouvoir, it works to promote "Judeo-Christian values in all areas of social life."
Love, is described by its makers as non-pornographic and another director, speaking in The Independent, said: "The decision is absurd at a time when anyone, minor or not, can easily find on the internet images far more traumatic than anything in Gaspar Noe's film."
Patrice Andre, a lawyer for the far-right party that from away from Front National, disagreed: "Why do film producers absolutely insist on showing such destructive scenes to the young?"
The debate continues.
