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China Allows Disney Film Screening
By ELAINE KURTENBACH Associated Press Writer
BEIJING, Monday February 8 (AP) - After holding the film ``Mulan''
hostage for political reasons, Beijing's censors said today they will
allow the screening of the Disney animated blockbuster in Chinese
cinemas later this month.
Officials at China Film, the state-run monopoly for importing and
distributing foreign films, said ``Mulan'' would be shown nationwide
beginning Feb. 23, just after the Feb. 16-22 lunar new year holiday
ends.
The decision marks a sharp change from two years ago, when China
threatened to rein in Disney's business dealings out of anger over
``Kundun,'' a film about the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
The Chinese screening process for movies is secretive and intertwined
with politics. Makers of films critical of Beijing's policies risk
having films shut out of the market.
With a population of 1.2 billion, China has one of the world's biggest
potential movie markets but it accepts only 10 American films a year.
Hollywood studios, which can take about half their revenues from the
foreign market, have been pushing Beijing to accept more American
movies.
The decision to screen ``Mulan'' only after the official lunar new year
holiday reflects cultural authorities' determination to protect the
struggling local film industry.
``We never planned to show the film any earlier because we have a policy
of showing superior, home-grown movies during the `golden time''' of the
holiday season, said an official in China Film's publicity department
who gave only her surname, Luo.
``Still, we believe that anytime within winter vacation will be good for
cartoon movies, even after the festival, because most animated filmgoers
are students,'' Luo said.
Films sharply critical of Chinese government policies on human rights,
artistic freedom and the Chinese presence in Tibet such as ``Kundun,''
``Red Corner'' and ``Seven Years in Tibet,'' set back efforts to sell
more U.S. films here.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency cited an unnamed China Film official
today as saying that the decision not to import ``Mulan'' last year was
a ``complicated issue.''
``In China, decisions on importing foreign movies usually relate to
political and cultural considerations,'' Xinhua said.
The subject matter of ``Mulan'' may have helped assuage Chinese anger
over other, more controversial films.
According to the Chinese folk tale the movie is based upon, Mulan
disguises herself as a man, becomes a soldier in place of her sickly
father and fights off invading northern tribes. She has long been held
up by the Chinese as the personification of duty to family and country.
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World Tibet Network NewsMonday, February 8, 1999 |
5. China Allows Disney Film Screening
By ELAINE KURTENBACH Associated Press Writer
BEIJING, Monday February 8 (AP) - After holding the film ``Mulan''
hostage for political reasons, Beijing's censors said today they will
allow the screening of the Disney animated blockbuster in Chinese
cinemas later this month.
Officials at China Film, the state-run monopoly for importing and
distributing foreign films, said ``Mulan'' would be shown nationwide
beginning Feb. 23, just after the Feb. 16-22 lunar new year holiday
ends.
The decision marks a sharp change from two years ago, when China
threatened to rein in Disney's business dealings out of anger over
``Kundun,'' a film about the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
The Chinese screening process for movies is secretive and intertwined
with politics. Makers of films critical of Beijing's policies risk
having films shut out of the market.
With a population of 1.2 billion, China has one of the world's biggest
potential movie markets but it accepts only 10 American films a year.
Hollywood studios, which can take about half their revenues from the
foreign market, have been pushing Beijing to accept more American
movies.
The decision to screen ``Mulan'' only after the official lunar new year
holiday reflects cultural authorities' determination to protect the
struggling local film industry.
``We never planned to show the film any earlier because we have a policy
of showing superior, home-grown movies during the `golden time''' of the
holiday season, said an official in China Film's publicity department
who gave only her surname, Luo.
``Still, we believe that anytime within winter vacation will be good for
cartoon movies, even after the festival, because most animated filmgoers
are students,'' Luo said.
Films sharply critical of Chinese government policies on human rights,
artistic freedom and the Chinese presence in Tibet such as ``Kundun,''
``Red Corner'' and ``Seven Years in Tibet,'' set back efforts to sell
more U.S. films here.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency cited an unnamed China Film official
today as saying that the decision not to import ``Mulan'' last year was
a ``complicated issue.''
``In China, decisions on importing foreign movies usually relate to
political and cultural considerations,'' Xinhua said.
The subject matter of ``Mulan'' may have helped assuage Chinese anger
over other, more controversial films.
According to the Chinese folk tale the movie is based upon, Mulan
disguises herself as a man, becomes a soldier in place of her sickly
father and fights off invading northern tribes. She has long been held
up by the Chinese as the personification of duty to family and country.
Articles in this Issue:
- Tibet Through Chinese Eyes Part 5 of 5
- Beijing to Host Tibet's 40th Anniversary of Chinese Rule Exhibition
- "Denounce me" Dalai Lama tells followers
- Tibet's Dalai Lama to visit Brazil
- China Allows Disney Film Screening
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