CONFIDENTIAL
(31
174376
MDHIAN 5413
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2591
OF 02113OZ AUGUST 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKD 306/2TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
FILM CENSORSHIP : PORTRAIT OF A FANATIC
1. THE MAN SING FILM DISTRIBUTORS CO (WHO DISTRIBUTE TAIWANESE FILMS) HAVE SOUGHT PERMISSION FOR THE RELEASE OF ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY BANNED FILM QUOTE PORTRAIT OF A FANATIC UNQUOTE. THE FILM WAS MADE IN 1982 BY THE CENTRAL MOTION PICTURES CO.
2. THE FILM CONCERNS THE LIFE OF A CHINESE ARTIST. IN HIS YOUTH HE IS FORCED BY THE JAPANESE INVASION TO FLEE HIS HOME. IN SHANGHAI, HAVING ESCAPED A KMT MILITARY PRESS-GANG, HE BECOMES INVOLVED IN LEFT-WING POLITICS. AFTER BEING SHOT WHILE FLEEING FROM KMT SECRET POLICE HE AWAKES ON BOARD A SHIP BOUND FOR THE US. THERE HE BECOMES SUCCESSFUL AND IS JOINED BY HIS WIFE. DESPITE HER PROTESTATIONS HE RETURNS TO CHINA. INITIALLY HE IS HEARTENED BY THE NEW CHINA BUT GRADUALLY BECOMES DISILLUSIONED BY HIS POOR TREATMENT AND THE LACK OF ARTISTIC FREEDOM. HE EVENTUALLY PUTS UP A POSTER AND IS FORCED TO FLEE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE FINALLY,
HE DIES.
3. WE CONSIDER THAT, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AS CONTROVERSIAL AS EITHER QUOTE COLDEST WINTER IN PEKING UNQUOTE OR QUOTE IF I WERE FOR REAL UNQUOTE, THE FILM CRITICISES THE LACK OF ARTISTIC FREEDOM DURING THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION AND IMPLIES THAT PATRIOTISM IS WORTHLESS WHEN CHINA IS RUN BY COMMUNISTS.
4. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT TWO MORE FILMS QUOTE LES CHINOIS A PARIS UNQUOTE AND QUOTE THE SOCIETY FILE IN SHANGHAI UNQUOTE WILL BE SUBMITTED IN AUGUST. WE WILL BE CONSIDERING WHAT VIEW TO TAKE ON THESE FILMS ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND WE HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO VIEW THEM. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT CONCLUSIONS WE REACH.
5. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, WE PROPOSE TO TELL THE CENSOR THAT THERE IS NO POLITICAL OBJECTION TO THE RELASE OF THIS FILM. AS WITH QUOTE COLDEST WINTER UNQUOTE WE WOULD NOT/NOT INFORM NCNA. UNDER THE LEGISLATION WE HAVE TO GIVE A RESPONSE BY 14 AUGUST. WE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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