ROTTEN TOMATOES: Director Lou Ye Banned from Filmmaking for 5 years by Chinese Goverment

Director Lou Ye Banned from Filmmaking for 5 years by Chinese Goverment

by RT Staff | September 06, 2006

BEIJING -- China has banned acclaimed director Lou Ye from making movies for five years as punishment for sending his "Summer Palace" to the Cannes Film Festival without government approval in May, official media reported Monday.

Lou, who previously suffered a two-year blacklisting in 2000 for his Rotterdam Film Festival winner "Suzhou River" (HR 7/18), could not be reached for comment.

students in love in "Summer Palace"

In a telephone interview, the film's French co-producer called the decision by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television "shameful." "I am very sad that the Chinese public will not be allowed to see the fantastic love story," Sylvain Bursztejn, the head of Paris-based Rosem Films, said. Love story, sure, but it was the film's backdrop which caused trouble with the censors who refused to review it for approval for Cannes, claiming the print submitted was of poor quality. In May, the director and producers said this was a groundless excuse by the state, used to avoid addressing the film's content. (Jonathan Landreth) [Thanks to the Hollywood Reporter for the news item.]

"Summer Palace" was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Click here for a review of the film from our editor Tim Ryan. It's also getting mixed reactions from Variety and Hollywood Reporter.

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(1-20 of 28 posts) | Reply

saiga6360 writes:
on Sep 06 2006 04:44 PM

Damned Commies...

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Sep 06 2006 05:28 PM

If we keep listening to celebrity backed social reform, we'll all be commies one day.

(Reply to this)

synergyred writes:
on Sep 06 2006 06:45 PM

Now I REALLY wanna see this movie.

(Reply to this)

J-Thrills writes:
on Sep 06 2006 07:13 PM

In reply to this comment (#843785)
If we keep listening to crickets, we'll all be crickets one day.

(Reply to this)

LifeAfter writes:
on Sep 06 2006 10:33 PM

In reply to this comment (#843787)
nice.

(Reply to this)

S0BeURself writes:
on Sep 07 2006 01:52 AM

[b]dont be an ass[/b]
hey renodc, before knockin social reform and communism, you might want get ur head out ur ass and not compare china's big brother approach to a govnmt meant to help everyone (communism) with one that benefits the rich (capitalism). unless of course u just do everything the bushmaster tells ya -

(Reply to this)

Viginti-Tres writes:
on Sep 07 2006 04:14 AM

In reply to this comment (#843789)
[b]don't be a retard[/b]
communism meant to help everyone?! look, its fair enough that you dont like bush but lets not forget that communism was the reason millions of russians, chinese and jews died. and how is banning this filmmaker good for the public?

(Reply to this)

CyberJackal writes:
on Sep 07 2006 05:40 AM

In reply to this comment (#843789)
[b]Hahaha[/b]
Read a few books and take a class or two in basic economics, then get back to us on how much communism "helps" everyone.

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:29 AM

Read a history book and find out that it was liberal propaganda that allowed the Communist to get a foot hold in Russia as well as in Cuba. The same liberal crap celebrities are spouting today. They never made good on their liberal ideology. They just knew there were enough idiots out there that actually believed that liberal social reform was realistic. Once they got into power they helped everyone become poor.
Ever heard of Adolph Hitler, he also used liberal propaganda in order to sway Germans frustrated with their current government to put him in power.

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:33 AM

In reply to this comment (#843789)
Name one communist country where the people didn't suffer. You want to experience oppression move to Cuba or China you idiot. Think before you type, moron.

(Reply to this)

Segkee writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:41 AM

Just because 'Communism' was used in a negative way doesn't mean that the philosophy, at its core, was not ideal. Capitalism at its core is idealistic (the trickle down theory, etc), but in practice it fails, just like Communism. And although these 'dictators' from time's past wooed their people with social ideals and people died because of those ideals doesn't make one ideology better than the other (or more evil). 'Capitalism' in the American sense of the word is leading to deaths (Iraq), has lead to deaths (Vietnam), and will lead to deaths (Korea). Buying into one or the other is like having to vote for two candidates -- it's stupid. When a minority rules the majority we have a major problem. And although Communism speaks for majority rule, in practice, in an attempt to gain the ideal, a minority group must rule and that's where you get the Fidels and the Stalins. At least Capitalism is more honest. The rich rule and the poor get their scraps.

(Reply to this)

Segkee writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:46 AM

Name one 'capitalist' country where people don't suffer?

(Reply to this)

CavA writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:47 AM

Communism is dangerous for the simple fact that all governemnts are corrupt. If you bring down the entire public by making them "equal" and having everything government owned, everyone (except the ones in power) pretty much get screwed

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:49 AM

In reply to this comment (#843794)
Good response.

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Sep 07 2006 11:56 AM

In reply to this comment (#843795)
In a capitalist society "most" of the people do not suffer. Many of those that do suffer, do so because they reap what they sow. In a Communist system, most of the people suffer with no hope of bettering themselves. Which is worse?

(Reply to this)

kubrickfan writes:
on Sep 07 2006 12:42 PM

Another major thing that separates capitalists from communist societys is opportunity. In a capitalist society, you have the opportunity to pretty much do whatever you want with your life (within reason). In a communist society, you can only do what the government deems as being for the good of the society. The idea that a capitalist society only serves the rich is a load of crap. Because everyone has the opportunity to get and education, make money, become an entrepreneur, get rich, whatever. No one says it's easy, but the opportunity is there. Communism is one of those ideals that is better on paper that it is in practical use. Doing things for the good of the community is certainly not a bad idea, but I personally would rather live some place where I could watch whatever movies I want, or listen to whatever music I want, without the government telling me how to run my life. And If you think the US government does any of those, than you are clueless to what goes on in the rest of the world.

(Reply to this)

Crenshaw writes:
on Sep 07 2006 01:38 PM

Can we go back to talking about movies, please?

(Reply to this)

Daarkfilm9 writes:
on Sep 07 2006 01:49 PM

The director should just be glad this movie wasn't released in an anarchist country.

(Reply to this)

Segkee writes:
on Sep 07 2006 02:46 PM

We are slaves to our societies no matter what the governing ideology may be. A guy working at McDonald's can find 'freedom' in a capitalistic society by earning his keep and spending it to advance his placement (not on consumer goods, but rather on ownership of his own company). He lifts himself up from the proles and joins the Bourgeoisie. But he is still not a free man for he has to abide by another layer of society - the government. He has to pay taxes for his freedom.

It's not unlike Communism, because, ultimately, Communism became a perversion and extreme version of capitalism. Advancement takes place in these countries and although their liberties may be 'hindered' through governing bodies, they still have the right to breath and the right to revolution (as do we).

In closing, Lou should move to the US and retitle his film 'Brown Bunny.'

(Reply to this)

IMAmoose24 writes:
on Sep 07 2006 03:36 PM

Communism bad.

(Reply to this)