Django Unchained becomes 'Django Unscreened' in China

Image
Press Trust of India Beijing
Last Updated : Apr 11 2013 | 7:15 PM IST
Theatres and cinema chains across China today suspended screenings of Oscar-winning film "Django Unchained" on the opening day following "technical reasons".
It was also speculated here on social networking sites that the suspension could have been because of complaints of nudity and obscenity.
Today morning, the Huayi Brothers Cinema used its account on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like microblogging service, to announce that showings of the film have been suspended for technical reasons," state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The cinemas received a notice from the importer of the film to suspend showings, a statement posted on the Mtime.Com, a popular movie information and ticket booking website in the country said.
An unnamed employee of the Shanghai-based cinema chain Ultimate Movie Experience (UME) said that UME theatres in China have suspended sales of tickets for the film by director Quentin Tarantino.
Complaints and speculation have cropped up online, with many netizens guessing that nudity in the film may be why it has been suspended in theatres, the news agency report said.
"The harm created by the act (of suddenly suspending the screening of the film) will be much greater than what may be brought by some 'dangerous scenes' to the nation's politics," Hu Xijin, editor of the state-run the Global Times, wrote on his microblog.
Hu said some authorities have frequently made questionable decisions at the expense of the government's credibility.
"Django Unchained" is Tarantino's first commercial release in China, regarded as the one of top largest film markets.
Since its premiere, the film following a former American slave's pursuit of freedom and love has earned over USD 400 million globally.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 11 2013 | 7:15 PM IST

Next Story