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Moonlight's Gay Theme May Prevent a China Release

source: metro.co.uk



Chinese movie fans may miss out on the chance to see the Oscar-winning Moonlight because it has yet to pass the country’s strict censorship tests.


Iqiyi, the Chinese equivalent of Netflix, bought the streaming rights for the movie which is set in three acts and follows the life of a young black boy through to adulthood in Miami.


However it has yet to be passed for release, and now sources have told American trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter that ‘the Moonlight acquisition was made without prior censorship clearance and iQiyi’s online release plans remain uncertain’.


Earlier in March there was success for gay rights campaigners in China after Beauty And The Beast’s gay scene remained in the film; The People’s Daily tweeted: ‘Controversial gay moment kept in Disney’s #BeautyAndTheBeast… requires no guidance for minors.’


‘So many international films are “a little bit gay” these days, if the censors insisted on blocking all of it, one day soon there wouldn’t be American film showing in China,’ said Chinese director and activist Fan Popo.


However one insider close to state-backed distributor China Film Group revealed that the problem is that ‘Moonlight is unsuitable for the China market and not politically correct’.


THR also report that Moonlight was being considered for the upcoming Beijing International Film Festival but the inclusion is ‘still unconfirmed’.


Gay relationships are banned across all TV shows in China, although online or movie portrayals remain a grey area for censors; the decision to air Beauty And The Beast – and also Power Rangers – nationwide was made thanks to the fact that it was widely expected to make a lot of money for cinemas and distributors. Moonlight is sadly less of a guaranteed hit.


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