Summer Palace (film)
Date: 2006
Region: Russia and Central Asia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Film Video
Artist: Lou Ye, director of Summer Palace; Fang Li, producer of Summer Palace
Confronting Bodies: Censorship Committee of the Chinese Film Bureau
Date of Action: May, 2006
Location: China
Description of Artwork: The film, Summer Palace, portrays the relationship between two Chinese students during the political events occuring in 1989.
The Incident: Before a Chinese movie can be screened outside of China, the move must be approved by the censorship committee of the Film Bureau. Summer Palace never received the necessary approval before it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
Results of Incident: As a result of the screening of the film, about fifty Chinese mediapersons left the festival. It is unknown what will happen with either the film or to Lou Ye and Fang Li once they return to China.
Source: Times Online, www.timesonline.co.uk