Movies

Chinese films dodging censors have no place to go. Can they crack into Taiwan?

BBG News

TAIPEI, Taiwan – As filmmaker Wang Zijian worked on his production titled “Bel Ami,” also known as “Beautiful Friends,” he was fully aware that this project would not be screened in mainland China’s cinemas.

In a quaint, wintery Chinese village, a satirical tale unfolds, depicting the entwined stories of same-sex couples, a subject often suppressed by China’s ruling authorities due to stringent censorship laws.

Wang figured he wouldn’t receive a warm reception in Hong Kong either, since the Chinese Communist Party has been increasingly exerting its authority over the once-British territory.

Similar to an increasing number of Chinese filmmakers worried about censorship, he resorted to his final opportunity to connect with a Chinese-speaking audience: Taiwan.

Wang, a 36-year-old film producer based in Beijing, stated that for them, there’s no other market left.

Previously, he entered his film into the highly regarded Taiwan Film Festival, known as the Golden Horse Awards, with the aspiration that it might result in a public screening.

Making that choice came with its own set of potential problems. Chinese censors have been intensifying the stress on movie creators, even those attempting to bypass the government by showcasing their work overseas. With tightening controls over portrayals of sensitive subjects like the COVID-19 pandemic, filmmakers who ignore the need for official approval risk repercussions that could impact both their lives and careers.

World & Nation

Online content creators who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community within China have become skilled at navigating ambiguous internet censorship regulations and fostering a supportive queer community on social media platforms.

Chinese officials maintain a high level of concern over Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island which they consider part of their sovereign territory and have publicly declared they would forcibly reclaim if required.

2019 saw China directing its movie creators to abstain from participating in the Golden Horse Awards festival, following a winner’s open backing of Taiwanese autonomy.

In relation to this, Taiwan only allows approximately 10 Chinese films to be screened annually in cinemas, chosen randomly from around 50 entries. This restriction has been in place since the 1990s, during a period when China and Taiwan started gradually increasing cultural interactions.

Movies that receive significant awards at prominent film festivals are often given special consideration. However, Wang’s film, a Chinese production that took home Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor, Cinematography, and Editing in November, didn’t meet the necessary criteria due to those accolades being deemed too insignificant for a commercial release.

This month, Wang and fellow advocates put forth a petition proposing that Taiwan ease its regulations and offer more exceptions for honorably recognized films such as “Bel Ami” of his.

Additionally, it suggests that “Bel Ami,” being financed and made by a French production, can be categorized as a global movie. However, Taiwan classifies it as a Chinese production due to the fact that over half its principal actors are of Chinese descent.

World & Nation

The film “schism” symbolizes a divide that transcends the broader Chinese-speaking community. On one side, the Chinese Communist Party wields its economic influence and political power to establish cultural dominance. Meanwhile, Chinese individuals living abroad, near borders, and on the periphery advocate for an alternative way of life.

Ever since 2017, as China implemented regulations that necessitated approval from authorities for both domestic and international screenings of feature films, a growing number of Chinese directors have been collaborating with foreign partners in an effort to bypass these new restrictions.

Sabrina Qiong Yu, a professor of film and Chinese studies at Newcastle University in England, pointed out that it’s uncertain if a movie will turn out well,” she said. “The rules serve primarily as an incentive for self-censorship rather than actual censorship.

Additionally, the newly implemented limitations have intensified a downturn in the number of independent film festivals in China, thereby reducing chances for filmmakers not affiliated with the official system, leading more of them to seek opportunities overseas instead.

Yu stated that censorship has long existed, yet it grew increasingly severe. This led many movie makers to view Taiwan as an ideal location for presenting their films.

276 Chinese films were submitted to the Taiwan festival last year, marking the highest number since 2018 – the year preceding China’s boycott. In simpler terms, more Chinese movies were sent to the Taiwan festival last year than in any other year since 2018, which was just before China stopped participating.

The honor of best narrative film was bestowed upon “An Unfinished Film,” a Chinese production that tells the story of a film team trapped in quarantine during the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Additionally, he won the award for Best Director. Lou Ye was fully cognizant of the repercussions Chinese filmmakers might encounter if they challenged the government. Having experienced temporary bans from filmmaking due to addressing sensitive topics like LGBTQ+ communities and pro-democracy movements, as well as submitting his work to international festivals without prior approval, he was well aware of the risks.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly waiting to see the film that won him an award lately. However, I’m left wondering if the director, Lou, encountered any backlash due to his winning submission from last year. Unfortunately, through the distributor, he chose not to grant me an interview for more insights on this intriguing topic.

Wang mentioned that he and the director of “Bel Ami,” Geng Jun, have encountered obstacles from Chinese officials due to their entry in the Golden Horse Awards. However, he chose not to disclose specifics about these issues.

He stated that the authorities have a consistent method of administering penalties without leaving any evidence, and when they sense their reasoning isn’t effective, they tend to leverage their power by making threats.

World & Nation

As a dedicated cinephile, I’d like to share some insights about a potential change in Hong Kong’s cinematic landscape. If this new censorship law is implemented, it could potentially land any individual screening unauthorized films in prison for as long as three years.

The Taiwan festival is known for honoring Asian films that encounter bans in their home countries, such as “Revolution of Our Times,” a 2021 Hong Kong documentary about the pro-democracy demonstrations, and “The Story of Southern Islet,” a 2020 Malaysian film whose director refused to omit scenes depicting traditional folklore and spiritual beliefs.

But Chinese films probably will face greater scrutiny as cross-strait tensions have deteriorated.

For some time now, Wonder Weng, head of the Taiwan Film Critics Society, has been pushing for the removal of the limit on Chinese films. Yet, this initiative has not picked up much momentum, primarily because Taiwanese audiences show little enthusiasm for films originating from the Chinese mainland.

In contrast to those who advocate for independent Chinese films, a particular group in Taiwan strongly resists any form of Chinese content, often seeing it as potential Communist Party propaganda.

Though many recognize these rules as unfair, they tend not to give it much thought or action,” he stated.

World & Nation

China is preparing for an escalation of the trade war with the U.S. once Donald Trump takes office.

As you may have noticed, I’ve been keeping up with the evolving situation regarding film screenings here in Taiwan. Our Ministry of Culture has made it clear that they are still evaluating the need for any restrictions. However, it’s essential to maintain a system that allows Chinese films to be viewed here, and this is ensured through festival screenings, the lottery system, and exemptions when it comes to awards.

Regardless, Taiwan, home to approximately 23 million individuals, presents less financially promising opportunities compared to China, boasting a population of over 1.4 billion.

As the founder of Hooray Films, I’ve observed that nearly all Chinese films released in Taiwan underperform at the box office. However, I personally found “An Unfinished Film” captivating, and I was eager to explore its potential success here in Taiwan.

World & Nation

Over time, Chinese consumers have grown more cautious with their spending. This trend, experts warn, could negatively impact China’s overall economic growth.

Regarding Wang, the “Bel Ami” producer mentioned that he thought about entering his project into the Taiwan festival during both 2020 and 2021, but he was worried it might stir up issues with the authorities.

This time, he felt he had less to lose.

He expressed that excessive censorship has severely impacted China’s film industry, transforming the nation into a place where “filmmakers produce content that aligns with the government’s preferences.

Like many Chinese independent films, “Bel Ami” got no reviews on China’s heavily managed internet.

However, during the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan, Wang learned from his hometown contacts in China that Chinese social media was transformed into a contested territory, with enthusiasts praising the Chinese submissions and censors deleting their comments.

By 4 a.m., the censors had won.

But Wang was satisfied that his film had at least generated some discussion inside China.

Taiwan, he said, is the “last place of hope for Chinese-language cinema.”

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2025-01-29 13:32

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