China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film

0 k, P  f  {$ \7 s: E( yAuthorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
0 D) E- K$ ~, ]3 X, R) b0 HLost 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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( R- ?  ^, p+ I  g/ V* YAccording to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, however, the film still violated regulations.

7 O, `; s  ]4 f8 h# h( EIts producers have been banned from making films in China for two years.

The drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.
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It went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

- v+ D) }% `# G" ]' R'Inappropriate'
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According to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.

- x& e& ?$ w5 Q8 v5 [Its producer, Fang Li, has attributed the decision to the widespread availability of uncut, pirated versions of the movie he did not sanction.

"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."

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.
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The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.