Director Lou Ye gets 5 year ban in China

[Li Kao]

The official reason from the government was that he showed his latest film, Summer Palace at Cannes without official government approval. So now he is banned from making films in China for 5 years. I think the movie's producer also got the ban. And it's not the first time for Lou Ye either.

Here is a blog that has the news piece about the ban: Lou Ye banned for 5 years (http://chungking-express.blogspot.com/2006/09/lou-ye-banned-for-five-year-from.html)

And here is a brief interview with him following the ban: UK interview (http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1869834,00.html)

What do you all think about this? I will say it makes me more appreciative of some of the freedoms that we enjoy in the U.S.

[ShaolinGirl]

The official reason from the government was that he showed his latest film, Summer Palace at Cannes without official government approval. So now he is banned from making films in China for 5 years. I think the movie's producer also got the ban. And it's not the first time for Lou Ye either.

[snipped bits]

What do you all think about this? I will say it makes me more appreciative of some of the freedoms that we enjoy in the U.S.

I hate censorship. And if you think the U.S. is such a free country :eek: you're just not paying attention!!!!

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Can we see a pattern here? Sorry 'bout the off-topic stuff. That freedom comment just set me off. I'm better now.... :-)

[Li Kao]

I know the U.S. has its own censorship issues and such, and Lou Ye almost expected a response like that from his government, but I still maintain that Americans have alot more freedom to express their opinions and beliefs, even if they are contrary to the popular opinion or government policy. Look at Michael Moore -- while Fahrenheit 911 did stir up some controversy and debate, he wasn't sanctioned for criticizing the current administration (actually, he made quite a fortune from that film -- it grossed $119 million domestically and $103 million overseas with a production budget of $6 million). I'm just bummed that I may not potentially see anything from Lou for a while now -- I respect him as a very talented and important filmmaker.

[sunfist]

I hate censorship. And if you think the U.S. is such a free country :eek: you're just not paying attention!!!!

So you hate censorship, but wish to silence all those who disagree with you.

My spider sense is tingling.

[ShaolinGirl]

I simply said you weren't paying attention. And that's all I'm going to say on this because it's too easy for things to go downhill from here!
Peace and have a Happy Festivus!

[Li Kao]

update on this story and a new article/interview with Lou Ye in Variety -- http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952088.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

I still find this story to be most interesting -- ShaolinGirl, I understood what you were trying to say -- and I know every society has its own forms of censorship. Maybe I shouldn't have made the comment I did, as I also don't want to make this into more than it is. I really just wanted to discuss this particular incident and the situation over in China. All of the broadcast media there is still regulated by SARFT, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television which has been described as "gigantic, 50's era, Mao-hangover ministry." The agency said the ban was for not getting its approval before screening the movie at Cannes -- however, the story is a love story set amidst the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and contains fairly explicit sex scenes. That is what I found most interesting about the story ...