Many films get trapped in controversy even before their release, which leads to delayed films. There are several reasons for a film to get delayed, for Eg. political reasons, violence, intimate scenes, etc. The censor board allows the movies to release but with several cuts and editing. Other countries have strict censor boards, and they always have a political agenda behind it, the country China. China has a rigid censorship board for its films. So here is the list of top 10 Chinese movies that got delayed:
1. The Eight Hundred (2020)
The Eight Hundred is a 2020 war drama film on the real-life incidents of the Battle of Shanghai and the Second Sino-Japanese war. The film is about the eight hundred soldiers who fought against the Japanese soldiers on the Shanghai battlefield. This film was delayed for various political reasons by the censor board for one year. The film was supposed to be out in 2019, but it got released in 2020.
2. Gone With The Bullets (2014)
Gone with the bullets are 2014 action/drama film. The film takes place in the period of 1920s. The beauty pageant was started by two men and invited many elite people for money laundering. The Censor board delayed the film's premiere. The film was released only after cutting a few scenes and editing them.
3. Ju Dou (1990)
Ju Dou is a 1990 drama film about the woman Ju Dou. This film talks about the sad and tragic life of Ju Dou. Her husband tortured her for not conceiving a child. Things turn upside down when she falls in love with her husband's nephew. For the first two years, the film didn't get released, and in 1992, the government lifted the ban.
4. Mama (1990)
Mama is a 1990 drama film on the struggle and sacrifice of a single mother. This film is about a single mother who is raising her mentally handicapped. The film was released in China after a two-year ban and had very minimal screenings in China.
5. Raise The Red Lantern (1991)
Raise the red lantern is a 1991 drama film about a young woman who is a concubine of a wealthy man during the warlord era. The film takes place in the 1920s. It is about the journey of a young concubine who must learn the rules and regulations of the master's house. The film was banned in China and released after three years.
6. Beijing Bastards (1993)
Beijing Bastards is a 1993 drama film about a musician finding his pregnant girlfriend who left him after an argument. There was a ban on the movie from releasing in mainland China because of the portrayal of homosexuality. The music of the film was also not played on the tv.
7. Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Farewell My Concubine is a 1993 drama film about two opera actors in China. It is about the long-term friendship of Shitou and Douzi, who went through many ups and downs during China's social instability. The film wasn't allowed at first. After the ban, the edited version was allowed in the theater because of the backlash. The government opposed the movie because of the representation of homosexuality and criticism of the communist period in China.
8. To Live (1994)
To live is a 1994 drama film on the life of a couple who try to survive in changing times of China. The film is set between the time of 1940s during the Chinese civil war and to 1970s during the cultural revolution. The film was banned in China because it portrayed the policies and campaigns of the government in a bad light. However, the film is now available on online platforms in China.
9. Lan Yu (2001)
Lan Yu is a 2001 romantic drama film on a tragic love story of two men. The film is about a young architecture student Lan Yu who is in a relationship with the businessman Chen Handong. The portrayal of homosexuality became the reason for the ban and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.
10. East Palace, West Palace (1997)
East Palace, West Palace is a 1996 drama film about a gay writer A-Lan and a police officer Xiao Shi. Being homosexual is not criminalized in China, but the police used to arrest homosexuals in the name of hooliganism. China banned the movie because of the portrayal of homosexuality.
