China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film
# z8 m2 F: E8 L& k, M
Authorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
5 L7 P7 z' G' |$ KLost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.
( R+ O- D' {/ t* t" ~
' X& ^7 U+ K* U8 X( {: @, \7 fAccording to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, however, the film still violated regulations.
: o8 f' B6 d: R3 {* U
Its producers have been banned from making films in China for two years.
& }* H5 t, G5 R3 w$ }
The drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.
; N% U6 e% A& x: F+ ~
5 @2 W! \4 P# y% W8 t( m6 DIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

0 c9 {# s5 M2 X: u2 H. n9 W'Inappropriate'

According to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.

5 k" B, R  C3 LIts producer, Fang Li, has attributed the decision to the widespread availability of uncut, pirated versions of the movie he did not sanction.
$ v7 T" b* J& f6 q& x+ B+ s/ r
/ Y3 H8 O8 U4 `7 ^" {  `, h"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.

8 l6 c! Z9 m* J5 j- C"We are the victims of piracy. We are the biggest victims."

0 W( p; z: F# ]! I& p! z5 U+ ]" o8 xPreviously, 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.
% c+ u, B3 V2 o: f' m+ z; F8 a  [
The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.