China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film

' `$ ^7 s/ z* y' C! t& uAuthorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
. \3 \1 ], o- y4 C: k/ U" e/ ~/ |9 x; ELost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.

4 I; W9 b$ `+ aAccording to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, however, the film still violated regulations.

Its producers have been banned from making films in China for two years.

, J  `$ f( X% A. N. nThe drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.

  {/ Q: z( Y, z7 L: {; ^1 OIt 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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Its producer, Fang Li, has attributed the decision to the widespread availability of uncut, pirated versions of the movie he did not sanction.
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"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.

5 p- q. v; `3 w; r0 c- t3 B"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.

Scenes set in Tiananmen Square, the site of pro-democracy protests that prompted a bloody military crackdown in 1989, were also removed.
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The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.