China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film
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" n5 J8 N) Y4 P5 L( x, I* EAuthorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
6 M/ k; W/ `) G1 fLost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.

" O( w" L  H+ j, N$ L' j& f+ H! bAccording to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, however, the film still violated regulations.
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Its producers have been banned from making films in China for two years.
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3 G$ G: N/ D! l1 eThe drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.

It went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.
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'Inappropriate'

According to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.
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, W3 R& S4 I( k* UIts producer, Fang Li, has attributed the decision to the widespread availability of uncut, pirated versions of the movie he did not sanction.

: {5 {0 ~8 t! P9 Y1 a"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.
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"We are the victims of piracy. We are the biggest victims."
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Previously, Fang said he had edited the film to remove explicit sex scenes and a side character - a fired foot masseuse who becomes a prostitute.
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Scenes set in Tiananmen Square, the site of pro-democracy protests that prompted a bloody military crackdown in 1989, were also removed.

" G+ B" _: s+ z; d) @The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.