China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film
2 w. s& F" i; u! n) P# g
Authorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
, H( ?9 C; @$ L" B7 JLost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.
3 l7 ?. o1 G9 [4 B) V- g
# U1 U# ]5 g% T( [: Q# G" vAccording 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.
1 ^  ?- R7 E: i* B- x' `
# _) w% K! P8 _0 a7 ]# g& aThe drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.

/ S$ I+ B, L9 v0 f+ ~" o5 PIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

'Inappropriate'

9 J9 P! ^! P: A- HAccording to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.
( u0 n& z4 X; v6 G7 [
/ u+ \% r- E) M7 }Its producer, Fang Li, has attributed the decision to the widespread availability of uncut, pirated versions of the movie he did not sanction.

$ D; H& F$ L+ p' E' @3 M0 a"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.

"We are the victims of piracy. We are the biggest victims."

! |; M; D' ]5 Q4 M* \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.
; q1 R$ F2 z8 {4 o* i6 ]$ Z7 x
Scenes set in Tiananmen Square, the site of pro-democracy protests that prompted a bloody military crackdown in 1989, were also removed.
! u  T# c: G: {% W/ c6 m% B% Q
The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.