'Geisha' Awaiting Approval in China

'Geisha' Awaiting Approval in China
By DAVID BARBOZA
Published:January 30,2006
SHANGHAI,Jan.29 — About a week before it is scheduled to appear in movie theaters here,the Hollywood film "Memoirs of a Geisha" has not received government approval to be shown in China,according to film executives.
State-run newspapers have reported that the Chinese government has delayed approving the film's release and may cancel it because of concerns that the film's use of Chinese actresses to portray Japanese geishas could spark public anger.Government officials have denied considering a ban.
Li Chow,a spokeswoman for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors,a unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment,which is distributing the film here,said no final decision had been made,but acknowledged the unusual delay.
"We're still hoping the film will be approved," she said."But it looks like it will be delayed."
While Japan is one of the biggest foreign investors in Chinese factories,Chinese anger over Japan's occupation of China in the 1930's and 1940's continues to be a sensitive and even volatile topic here.Relations between the countries have cooled in recent years,partly because of anger over visits by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan to the Yasukuni Shrine,where some Japanese war criminals are enshrined.
The film,which was produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Rob Marshall,is scheduled to be shown in theaters here beginning on Feb.9.The film was produced by Columbia Pictures,DreamWorks and Spyglass Entertainment and was released in the United States in December.
Although the film chronicles the world of Japanese geishas,it stars three actresses from the Chinese film world:Ziyi Zhang,who earned a Golden Globe nomination as best actress for her role as a geisha,Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh.Ms.Zhang and Ms.Li are two of China's best-known actresses,and Ms.Yeoh is popular for her roles in China,though she was born in Malaysia.
Last week,Ni Qianghau,an official at the State Administration of Radio,Film and Television denied the government was considering a ban.
"The film bureau hasn't started reviewing the script or the movie,so it is not true to say that we are considering banning the movie," he said Tuesday.

It's true that China does not welcome such a movie as it contains sensitive political topics.However,we should see other reasons.Memories of a Geisha is set in the old Japan.And the rhythm of this movie is too slow,maybe it would not catch Chinese audience.Now that the movie has been put forward for so long a time,it is generally considered that invalid published DVDs have already occupied the market,there is no need to introduce this movie as there will not be too much profits left.