"Lust, Caution" star Tang
Wei has been banned in the Chinese media because of the sexual
nature of her performance in director Ang Lee's steamy drama,
according to local press reports.
An internal memo from China's State Administration of Radio
Film and Television (SARFT) was reportedly sent to all
television stations and print media in China on Thursday night,
stating that a new television commercial starring Tang for skin
care brand Pond's was to cease broadcast immediately. All print
ads and feature content using the actress also were to be
pulled. The memo gave no reason for the ban.
Tang's deal with Pond's is worth a reported 6 million yuan
($843,000).
Neither Tang's manager nor SARFT could be reached for
comment.
In a statement dated March 7, titled "Reassertion of
Censorship Guidelines," SARFT said it had informed all major
film and broadcast entities and governing bodies that it was
renewing prohibitions on "lewd and pornographic content" and
content that "show promiscuous acts, rape, prostitution, sexual
intercourse, sexual perversity, masturbation and male/female
sexual organs and other private parts." However, the public
notice, posted on SARFT's Web site, did not specifically
mention "Lust" or Tang.
In addition, all awards shows in China were advised to
exclude Tang and the producers of "Lust, Caution" from their
list of guests, while discussions about the film and Tang on
online forums were deleted, Hong Kong newspaper Oriental Daily
reported Friday.
A spokesperson for the Asian Film Awards, where Tang was
announced Friday as a presenter, said organizers had no
knowledge of any ban and had not been contacted by Tang's
management. The awards are set for March 17 in Hong Kong. It
was not clear whether the ban would extend to awards shows in
the former British colony.
The announcement comes during the annual meeting of China's
highest legislative body, the National People's Congress, in
Beijing. The yearly event is an occasion for a shuffling of
government positions and the introduction or renewal of
regulations and policies.
"Lust," Lee's artsy thriller, reportedly upset China's
central government, where top officials were said to have
criticized the film's content as "glorification of traitors and
insulting to patriots." SARFT reportedly was singled out in the
censure for permitting the film to be released in China last
year, even after seven minutes of graphic sex scenes were cut
from the film's theatrical release.
"Lust, Caution" is 28-year-old Tang's first major film, and
both audiences and critics lauded her for holding her own,
particularly given the intense nature of the sexual scenes with
co-star Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
The banning of a film, along with its cast and crew, months
after release is not uncommon in China. In early January, SARFT
banned the producers of the film "Lost in Beijing" for two
years and ordered the film's theatrical and home video release
to be recalled. The "Lost" cinematic release had been delayed
because of sexual content, which was ultimately cut from both
the theatrical and home video editions.
"Lust, Caution" was controversial in China for both its
political and sexually provocative content. Some Chinese
tourists traveled to Hong Kong during the October 1 national
holiday to watch the full version of the film. The film earned
HK$48.8 million ($6.2 million), making it the highest-grossing
Chinese-language film in Hong Kong in 2007.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
In Theaters 
