@Fergoose said:

How does this get past the censors? I know Dictator Xi is running an 'anti-corruption' drive, so maybe such topics can be discussed publicly, but I'm surprised to see a director able to make this and suggest it is based on real life scenarios. Particularly with the first story.

Here is an article from The New York Times dated November 22, 2013. It was released outside China.

https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/no-release-in-sight-for-film-exploring-chinas-violence/

Here is a blurb from Wikipedia from an entry on 'Film Censorship in China:

"The film depicts "shocking" violence in China caused by economic inequality and political corruption, including the shooting of local officials. During development of the film, censors asked director Jia Zhangke to revise dialogue and seemed generally unconcerned by violence. Censors did recommended Jia decrease the number of killings but allowed it when Jia refused. The film was cleared for foreign distribution and showed at international festivals. Although the film was initially cleared for local distribution, the film did not open in China on its release date and a directive was given telling journalists not to write about the film. The distributor Xstream Pictures released a statement saying it did not receive a notice the film was banned and that it was continuing to work on local distribution.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_censorship_in_China#List_of_banned,_partially_banned,_or_unreleased_films

I haven't been able to find out if it ever was released in China.

@bratface said:

@Fergoose said:

How does this get past the censors? I know Dictator Xi is running an 'anti-corruption' drive, so maybe such topics can be discussed publicly, but I'm surprised to see a director able to make this and suggest it is based on real life scenarios. Particularly with the first story.

Here is an article from The New York Times dated November 22, 2013. It was released outside China.

https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/no-release-in-sight-for-film-exploring-chinas-violence/

Here is a blurb from Wikipedia from an entry on 'Film Censorship in China:

"The film depicts "shocking" violence in China caused by economic inequality and political corruption, including the shooting of local officials. During development of the film, censors asked director Jia Zhangke to revise dialogue and seemed generally unconcerned by violence. Censors did recommended Jia decrease the number of killings but allowed it when Jia refused. The film was cleared for foreign distribution and showed at international festivals. Although the film was initially cleared for local distribution, the film did not open in China on its release date and a directive was given telling journalists not to write about the film. The distributor Xstream Pictures released a statement saying it did not receive a notice the film was banned and that it was continuing to work on local distribution.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_censorship_in_China#List_of_banned,_partially_banned,_or_unreleased_films

I haven't been able to find out if it ever was released in China.

Top work squire, thanks! I can only assume the government want some international cultural respect so badly they'll allow something to be released as long as they are able to suppress it at home. Bizarre.

@Fergoose said:

@bratface said:

@Fergoose said:

How does this get past the censors? I know Dictator Xi is running an 'anti-corruption' drive, so maybe such topics can be discussed publicly, but I'm surprised to see a director able to make this and suggest it is based on real life scenarios. Particularly with the first story.

Here is an article from The New York Times dated November 22, 2013. It was released outside China.

https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/no-release-in-sight-for-film-exploring-chinas-violence/

Here is a blurb from Wikipedia from an entry on 'Film Censorship in China:

"The film depicts "shocking" violence in China caused by economic inequality and political corruption, including the shooting of local officials. During development of the film, censors asked director Jia Zhangke to revise dialogue and seemed generally unconcerned by violence. Censors did recommended Jia decrease the number of killings but allowed it when Jia refused. The film was cleared for foreign distribution and showed at international festivals. Although the film was initially cleared for local distribution, the film did not open in China on its release date and a directive was given telling journalists not to write about the film. The distributor Xstream Pictures released a statement saying it did not receive a notice the film was banned and that it was continuing to work on local distribution.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_censorship_in_China#List_of_banned,_partially_banned,_or_unreleased_films

I haven't been able to find out if it ever was released in China.

Top work squire, thanks! I can only assume the government want some international cultural respect so badly they'll allow something to be released as long as they are able to suppress it at home. Bizarre.

You are welcome. By the way, I am a woman.

Apologies Lady Squire (had to look up that term). I'm so sexist, I just automatically assumed all "brats" are male. :)

@Fergoose said:

Apologies Lady Squire (had to look up that term). I'm so sexist, I just automatically assumed all "brats" are male. :)

No problem. But you aren't the only one that has assumed I was of the male persuasion.