CONFIDENTIAL
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141740
MDHIAN 7003
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 31090OZ FCO TELNO 1758
OF 31073OZ MAY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
(25
мно MID 306/2
YRTELNO 1139: FILM CENSORSHIP: COLDEST WINTER IN PEKING
THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS IN TUR ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A) THE FILM DEPICTS THE LIVES OF TWO FAMILIES DURING THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION UP TO THE FALL OF THE GANG OF FOUR. THE MAIN CHARACTER, THE SON OF A VICE MINISTER, IS A FOREIGN TRAINED SCIENTIST WHO RETURNS TO CHINA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. HIS GIRLFRIEND, THE DAUGHTER OF A FORMER KMT SOLDIER, IS TAKEN OUT OF A REFORM-THROUGH-LABOUR CAMP TO BEFRIEND AND SPY ON HIM. THEY EACH HAVE A BROTHER IN RIVAL RED GUARD GROUPS. THEY ARE ALL INEVITABLY DRAWN INTO THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. THE VICE MINISTER AND HIS WIFE DIE WHEN THEY ARE ARRESTED FOLLOWING THE FALL OF LIN BIAO. THE SCIENTIST AND HIS GIRLFRIEND ARE SENT TO PRISON. THE GIRL'S BROTHERS RED GUARD GROUP IS MASSACRED BY THE ARMY. THE KMT SOLDIER DIES AFTER A STRUGGLE SESSION. WHEN THE SCIENTIST IS RELEASED FOLLOWING THE FALL OF THE GANG OF FOUR HE FINDS THAT ALTHOUGH, ON THE SURFACE, NORMALITY HAS RETURNED HIS GIRLFRIEND HAS DISAPPEARED. HE DISCOVERS, THROUGH HER BROTHER WHO IS NOW IN AN UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE MOVEMENT, THAT SHE IS STILL ALIVE HAVING GIVEN BIRTH TO HIS DAUGHTER IN PRISON. HE FINDS HER IN A MENTAL ASYLUM WHERE HE ASKS WHEN WILL IT STOP BEING WINTER IN PEKING.
B) THE FILM HAS BEEN BANNED THREE TIMES, THE FIRST OCCASION WAS SHORTLY AFTER IT HAD STARTED TO BE SHOWN IN MARCH 1981, AGAIN IN 1986
AND MOST RECENTLY IN APRIL 1987.
C) THERE WAS NO CHINESE RESPONSE OTHER THAN THAT IN OUR TELNO 406.
# 1
D) WE DO NOT (NOT) INTEND TO INFORM NCNA OF ANY DECISION NOT TO BAN THE FILM. WE DID SO IN THE CASE OF "IF I WERE FOR REAL' SINCE THAT WAS THE FIRST ''CONTROVERSIAL FILM TO BE RECONSIDERED UNDER THE NEW
LEGISLATION.
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL