Why 'Shanghai' was Shanghaied
By Paul on February 25, 2008 11:59 AM
As many of us are aware, the production in China of the World War II-era film 'Shanghai' set to star John Cusack and Gong Li has been blocked by SARFT (State Administration for Radio, Film and Television). No official reason has been given. However, Zhongnanhai has, through reliable sources, learned of the main reason behind the scrubbing of the shoot here in China. As has been reported, officials were concerned about the script. But what has since been revealed to us is that there was a scene toward the end of the film that apparently disagreed with the censors. As was relayed to us from people closely connected to the film, SARFT officials were reluctant to have a film shot in Shanghai which would portray the Japanese 'villain' in the film (to be played by wonderful actor Ken Watanabe) as sympathetic. As the story goes, apparently in the film, Watanabe's character, a Japanese officer who previously takes part in atrocities during the invasion of Shanghai, witnesses the murder of someone (who that someone is wasn't made clear to Zhongnanhai). Following this murder, Watanabe's character is said to display some form of remorse. And according to our source, apparently SARFT felt that this was a big sticking point because of the 'historical fact' that the Japanese would never show such remorse because they were all brutal. According to our source, this was - as we say in Canada - the TSN turning point, and threw the production off the rails, though the portrayal of opium-addicted Chinese people was apparently also a sore point.
By Paul on February 25, 2008 11:59 AM
As many of us are aware, the production in China of the World War II-era film 'Shanghai' set to star John Cusack and Gong Li has been blocked by SARFT (State Administration for Radio, Film and Television). No official reason has been given. However, Zhongnanhai has, through reliable sources, learned of the main reason behind the scrubbing of the shoot here in China. As has been reported, officials were concerned about the script. But what has since been revealed to us is that there was a scene toward the end of the film that apparently disagreed with the censors. As was relayed to us from people closely connected to the film, SARFT officials were reluctant to have a film shot in Shanghai which would portray the Japanese 'villain' in the film (to be played by wonderful actor Ken Watanabe) as sympathetic. As the story goes, apparently in the film, Watanabe's character, a Japanese officer who previously takes part in atrocities during the invasion of Shanghai, witnesses the murder of someone (who that someone is wasn't made clear to Zhongnanhai). Following this murder, Watanabe's character is said to display some form of remorse. And according to our source, apparently SARFT felt that this was a big sticking point because of the 'historical fact' that the Japanese would never show such remorse because they were all brutal. According to our source, this was - as we say in Canada - the TSN turning point, and threw the production off the rails, though the portrayal of opium-addicted Chinese people was apparently also a sore point.
----------------------------------------
Thankfully, the producers of 'Shanghai' are still soldering on with the film. As has been relayed to us, the vast majority of the production will now be taking place in London, with the China scenes set to be filmed in Thailand, though this has yet to be confirmed. I, personally, can't wait for the film to come out for two reasons. A) I'm a history junkie and love anything related to it and B) I'm a big John Cusack fan (and Gong Li ain't bad to look at either!)
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
As for SARFT and the Chinese government, all I can say is the hypocrisy of this is maddening. This is the same government that has promised to open up its doors to foreign film productions. But yet, it will hold its nose at anything that would give credence to the possibility that not all the Japanese were evil bastards during the invasion. But, to say I'm surprised would be a lie. This is the same government that is hypocritical enough to tell the world not to politicize the Olympics, while at the same time conveniently forgetting the fact that it boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow for 'political reasons' (though China wasn't officially part of the US-led boycott over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan). To quote Charlie Brown -- 'Arrrgggghhh!!!'
Source: Zhongnanhai
Source: Zhongnanhai
As shown on Admiring Gong Li forum
