Latest News:  

English>>Life & Culture

'Django' screenings in China suspended

(China.org.cn)

09:25, April 12, 2013

Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" was supposed to hit Chinese cinemas. (Photo/China.org.cn)

After winning two Academy Awards, Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" was supposed to hit Chinese cinemas today, but was soon dramatically taken down after its morning screenings.

According to insiders at China's various theater chains, the film's distributors China Film Group and Huaxia Film Distribution Co. asked theater bosses to suspend the showings of "Django Unchained" at 9 a.m.

Several dramatic scenes occurred at theaters across China today, with shocked audiences in Beijing and Guangzhou stating on their microblogs that they had just watched the film for one minute when the lights went back on and theater staff told them showings had been cancelled and asked them to leave.

The film's distributors said this happened due to "technical reasons," while Columbia Pictures declined to respond.

Moviegoers and Internet users are outraged by the cancellations and media speculations said the Chinese authorities may have just realized there might be one or two seconds of nudity still in the movie -- which will in fact not affect people’s enjoyment of the movie.

At the same time, some Chinese domestic film rivals of "Django Unchained" may have been pushing for maximum benefits and the best showing schedules for their own productions so they stabbed "Django" in the back, one industry insider told China.org.cn.

Theater staffs across China are shocked and furious, one anonymous staff member in Beijing told China.org.cn that due to Tarantino’s fame and this award-winning film, they had originally arranged for a heavy screening rotation. "We can refund the tickets bought at counters but it will be very troublesome to refund those bought online," he said, "We have never seen this kind of situation before and I'm afraid many theaters cannot achieve their box office goal for this month due to the absence of 'Django'."

The anonymous theater staffer also revealed, "It's absolutely not for any 'technical reason.' We'll be severely punished if we continue showing the film. It doesn't make sense if it is just a 'technical reason' as was reported. But if the film did have a problem, how did authorities not spot this when they imported and censored it? "

"Django Unchained" was supposed to hit Chinese theaters on April 11, 2013. But due to the current drama, a re-cut version may come back in theaters at the end of April – if ever.

【1】 【2】 【3】



We recommend:

Beauties in China Fashion Week

Rare photos tell stories of Leslie Cheung

Sexy female stars with long legs

Bikini-clad girls move on Robstep

Beautiful actresses in TV series

Female star: Zhang Li in casual style

"Journey to the West" staged in NW China

Creative sculptures made of vegetables

Ten most beautiful islands on Earth

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:LiQian、Ye Xin)

Related Reading

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Naval escort taskforce starts visit to Morocco

  2. Venezuela reinforces security for elections

  3. Vancouver Int'l Airport named best

  4. HK carries out avian influenza tests

  5. Seize every minute to do homework

  6. Snow hits China's Changchun

  7. Charming girls in Go game world

  8. Bikini models in Shanghai Fashion Week

  9. Int'l footwear exhibition kicks off in Shanghai

  10. Job fair in Tianjin held for college graduates

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Chinese takeover not threat: German research
  2. Is strong trade data too good to be true?
  3. Hit film triggers discussion on giving birth abroad
  4. Philanthropists donate less as economy slows
  5. New media trend for Chinese language study in US
  6. Follow-up work needed for yuan's going global
  7. Boao Forum for Asia makes China, world closer
  8. Devoted to a life defending nation
  9. Errors in urbanization must be avoided
  10. What kind of public diplomacy does China need?

What’s happening in China

Photo story: Nostalgia in a small telephone booth

  1. Anhui's Red Cross prevails in donor clash
  2. Authorities demand probe over temple razing
  3. Boy clings to life after father's abusive attack
  4. Girl severely burned while saving mother
  5. Beijing rejects rumor of human H7N9 infection