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.
- u/ S! T) Q$ o! N; ALost 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.

1 ^% z7 n1 B0 p, |: RThe 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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' R. I1 P+ m( SIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

& h0 r6 _$ R/ B* ]'Inappropriate'
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% Y' E! E% F9 f. t0 K3 j- }" yAccording 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.

2 }# {! R2 }5 }  {"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.

! r! O, [5 U& J: q0 x% ^7 e% T5 ^"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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2 i% K4 A; _+ ]" k# n' W7 xScenes 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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) M  f$ S  f; J$ SThe censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.