A Chinese moviegoer is suing his country's film censor over an edited version of Ang Lee's sexy Second World War drama Lust, Caution, saying it infringed on his "consumer rights," according to the Beijing Times.
Lee agreed to cut 30 minutes from the film after the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) demanded the removal of steamy sex scenes between first-time actress Tang Wei and Asian movie star Tony Leung, as well as violent scenes.
Chinese censors insisted that steamy sex scenes involving actress Tang Wei, seen here in August at the Venice Film Festival, be cut from the Chinese version of the Ang Lee film.
(Andrew Medichini/Associated Press)
Despite the cuts, the movie has proved to be very popular in China, reaping the equivalent of $11.5 million in its first two weeks.
Dong Yanbin, a doctoral student in Beijing, has reportedly filed a suit against SARFT as well as UME, the cinema showing the film, which launched Nov. 1 in China.
"I felt greatly disappointed after seeing the movie, Dong told the newspaper.
"The incomplete structure … and fragmented portrayal of the female lead's psyche makes it hard for the audience to appreciate the movie's art."
Dong is seeking apologies as well as 500 yuan ($65) in "psychological damages." The court has yet to accept the case.
Some filmgoers in southern Guangdong province have circumvented the censorship by crossing the border to Hong Kong to watch the uncut version.
Lust, Caution took top honours at the Venice Film Festival. The film chronicles the experiences of a group of patriotic Chinese students during the 1940s who plot to assassinate the Japanese-allied intelligence chief in Shanghai.
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