China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film
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Authorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
# |: |& J2 M& l  W; p  @% r8 XLost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.
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According 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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The drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.

5 T! r% l! x8 P4 i9 }* sIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

'Inappropriate'
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+ ?  ~5 B5 ~* Y: XAccording 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.

8 d9 x% z& f+ o9 g  \9 U"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.

+ d5 o, g. ?" i3 s$ ^+ e' `2 H"We are the victims of piracy. We are the biggest victims."
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0 D- v2 F/ l* d7 ]  jPreviously, 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.
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The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.