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! @+ C0 z# V3 |3 z, PLost 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.

5 o* q+ g% B9 Y- N  rIts producers have been banned from making films in China for two years.

- k0 ^) i: m( ~0 SThe drama - which involves the rape of a masseuse and her subsequent pregnancy - was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007.

9 e8 R1 p+ x' SIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

% h7 o' q, r$ t'Inappropriate'
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4 J: P3 b- i( l: b9 A- @, y( \# M' UAccording to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.
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, Y; I3 N0 A9 L: k% x% ^" RIts 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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"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."
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/ v5 U5 j: C# ?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.

8 `" L4 m4 T, l- C9 x$ tScenes 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.