MAULED BY CENSORS, CHINESE FILM TO BE SCREENED IN BERLIN

It took five trips to the censors, but Chinese authorities finally approved Li Yu's Lost in Beijing to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Associated Press reported from Hong Kong today (Thursday). In an interview with the wire service, producer Fang Li said that he underwent "a very painful process" as he removed scenes showing dirty streets, prostitutes, gambling, the Chinese flag and Tiananmen Square from the movie -- 53 changes in all. Moreover, he said, "some relationships have been completely cut out." Fang blamed conservative views of older censors. "It's like old grandparents judging grandchildren's behavior. There's a lot of misunderstanding," he said. The festival opened tonight with a screening of the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie en Rose.


08/02/2007