China bans censored brothel film

Magrath

China bans censored brothel film
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) N* g5 e% g: m; aAuthorities in China have banned a film set in a Beijing massage parlour that had already been heavily censored for its sexually explicit content.
4 ~- j$ ]8 Z6 a$ v( vLost 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.
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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.

* I+ `. \/ ?( x- ]3 C9 f: z- sIt went on to win a jury prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival last July.
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0 M2 w+ c# M& X  S# `; D'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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* j& s2 P* p# ]6 _1 A9 o- \2 OIts 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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+ f0 Q2 H6 }/ S6 Y) t0 O; }- I"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.
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; h7 y2 y5 K$ `) P# j) l7 dScenes 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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0 k* `. T+ g% Z- B0 x% TThe censored version of the movie had already been released legitimately on DVD.