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.
( r. x; n' o1 v4 tLost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.

( T6 {: [* Q- b  i( [1 rAccording to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, however, the film still violated regulations.
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9 D; T. @; O7 N, q, S: XIts 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.
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It went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.
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  \4 M" y5 m( Q3 O" J0 m'Inappropriate'
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$ S! b6 L# v* D; ~According to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.
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5 Z, W% A' X" }6 k. }Its producer, Fang Li, has attributed the decision to the widespread availability of uncut, pirated versions of the movie he did not sanction.
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  @+ j5 C* H  u$ h7 v  x; `"Why would I give the movie to pirates and hurt my own movie?" he told the Associated Press.
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/ q$ [# ?( o2 A$ t* L8 {' v"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.

* F' X. w- l" c. F+ J0 a1 dScenes set in Tiananmen Square, the site of pro-democracy protests that prompted a bloody military crackdown in 1989, were also removed.

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