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.
7 G7 b5 ]) _/ |1 D5 d% BLost In Beijing was released in Chinese cinemas on 30 November after scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes and gambling were removed from the movie.

( C3 y6 M8 G9 q, w1 l0 r/ CAccording 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.
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* _1 A4 P5 i6 OIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.
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2 P3 i0 o: D( o2 b'Inappropriate'
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According 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.
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$ m$ K3 L5 i' l& n4 S1 ["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."

! I& E% H, E: }6 u& B" o" Y! mPreviously, 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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3 |' p3 c; a5 _. a4 Q9 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.