Bad news for Chinese film lovers: Beijing has banned the makers of erotic films from participation in domestic awards competitions and requested that Chinese film studios decline from making sexually explicit films in the future. (And just so we're clear, from what we know about China and most other Communist states, we're using the word "request" kind of loosely here.)
The [State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT)] asked nationwide studios not to produce films with footage of hardcore activities, rape, whoring, obscene sex exposing human genitals, or sex freaks, the newspaper said. Vulgar conversations, nasty songs and sound effects with sexual connotation were also restricted.
Would this have anything to do with Ang Lee's erotic, Chinese-language thriller Lust, Caution, which you may remember Salon Sarah quite liking a few months back and which opened in mainland China with great controversy, great success, and about 7 minutes missing? Perhaps not coincidentally, early last month, Lust, Caution swept the Golden Horse awards, which are held in Lee's home country of Taiwan but are generally considered the most prestigious awards for Chinese language films. China's own Golden Rooster awards have attempted in years past to compete with the Golden Horses, but we can't imagine this latest move will up their street cred any. So boo hiss, Chinese government: you've managed to de-hot your own movies and undermine the value of your own awards shows all at the same time.
More importantly: hang in there, Chinese smut makers! We still love you, even if your home country don't!
[Via Shanghaiist]