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.
  O# n$ v4 [( t( ELost 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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2 b% d; b+ \9 v) e0 ^7 N, XAccording to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, however, the film still violated regulations.

Its 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.

; U% d, N+ b, O+ I" A9 DIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.

5 b. S5 \  F9 {" C'Inappropriate'
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; y' S0 N+ G$ E: e3 |. EAccording to the Chinese authorities, the film broke regulations by using "unhealthy and inappropriate promotional materials" in its marketing.

1 O5 l. k+ z" w3 M! e0 bIts 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."
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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.

# e4 q' z8 Y) [, uScenes set in Tiananmen Square, the site of pro-democracy protests that prompted a bloody military crackdown in 1989, were also removed.

. j7 z- g2 U3 N$ \3 L( S" @The censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.