Director Lou Ye Banned from Filmmaking for 5 years by Chinese Goverment

by | September 6, 2006 | Comments

BEIJING — China has banned acclaimed director Lou Ye from making movies for five years as punishment for sending his "Summer Palace" to the Cannes Film Festival without government approval in May, official media reported Monday.

Lou, who previously suffered a two-year blacklisting in 2000 for his Rotterdam Film Festival winner "Suzhou River" (HR 7/18), could not be reached for comment.


students in love in "Summer Palace"

In a telephone interview, the film’s French co-producer called the decision by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television "shameful." "I am very sad that the Chinese public will not be allowed to see the fantastic love story," Sylvain Bursztejn, the head of Paris-based Rosem Films, said. Love story, sure, but it was the film’s backdrop which caused trouble with the censors who refused to review it for approval for Cannes, claiming the print submitted was of poor quality. In May, the director and producers said this was a groundless excuse by the state, used to avoid addressing the film’s content. (Jonathan Landreth) [Thanks to the Hollywood Reporter for the news item.]

"Summer Palace" was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Click here for a review of the film from our editor Tim Ryan. It’s also getting mixed reactions from Variety and Hollywood Reporter.