China maddened by MIFF
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The Chinese Government has demanded that the Melbourne International Film Festival remove the documentary The 10 Conditions of Love from its program, reports today’s The Age. Directed by Melbournian Jeff Daniels (not to be confused with the actor Jeff Daniels) the now controversial film focuses on millionaire Uighur businesswoman and activist Rebiya Kadeer (pictured left, click to enlarge) who China accuses of inciting ethnic riots in Xinjiang earlier this month during which 180+ people died. Here’s a snippet from the story:
Festival director Richard Moore said the Chinese consulate in Melbourne phoned him late on Friday after the festival’s full program was published in The Age, insisting that the documentary, The 10 Conditions of Love, be withdrawn.
The consular official, Ms Chen, who is believed to be the new Melbourne cultural attache, demanded that Mr Moore justify his decision to include the film. She also castigated him for allowing Ms Kadeer to be a guest of the festival. Ms Kadeer is due in Melbourne next month to speak at the premiere.
“When I told them that I did not have to justify the film’s inclusion, they became increasingly insistent and proceeded to list her (Ms Kadeer’s) crimes,” Mr Moore said.
The Chinese government’s request for the film to be dumped is of course way outa line, although festival organisers should be pleased about the free publicity. At this stage two things are obvious: a) MIFF’s reputation will be in tatters if they succumb to the Chinese government’s requests, meaning they have every reason not to and no obvious reasons why they would and b) when Kadeer speaks at the premiere next month she’ll have some juicy new material for the audience.
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How ridiculous is that? A foreign government has no right or business approaching an artistic director. The Chinese dictatorship is so addicted to bullying its own citizens that it has no idea how to deal with international diplomacy.
Just face it: even the underground bikies have their code of conducts, but the Chinese communist dictator has not. They have successfully brain washed their party members into morons and they just want to dictate the world. You have seen the actions organized by the Chinese Embassies around the world.
Sydney PEN, the association of writers and readers devoted to free speech, has condemned the Chinese consulate’s censorship attempt. See PEN statement http://www.sydneypen.org.au
This reminds me of China’s attempts to interfere with the Venice film festival’s showing of M. Antonioni’s brilliant documentary back in the 1970s. The editors of the People’s Daily attacked Antonioni virtually everyday for months on end, and Jiang Qing has him branded a counterrevolutionary. Alas, the more things change the more they remain the same. Just goes to show that China and the CCP haven’t changed as much as we might have wished.
Paul: yep, it’s pretty ridiculous, ‘specially since they have next to nix chance of getting the film dumped but they’ll certainly accrue some bad publicity.
Great way to give you opponents publicity. Even if they got the australian government to push the organizers to pull it (highly unlikely), all it would mean is that lots of people would go and find it. They probably increased the audience by a factor of 10 or more.
According to the Age news paper Chinese activists and hackers have attacked and defaced the Film festival web site (it has since been restored).
The Chinese films that have been withdrawn have been replaced by some extra screenings of The 10 Conditions of Love which has now become a box office best seller for the festival. Isn’t Karma a wonderful thing.
Xinjiang is a part of China!
Have you ever seen the movie of País Vasco y Libertad, please imagine that somebody show the movie of País Vasco y Libertad in the MIFF, what will Spainish Government do ? I do not consider that the Spanish Government do nothing to deal with País Vasco y Libertad .So it’s the same situation with China. This not about the CP, this about the whole Chinese.
From what I understand, the website attacks aren’t coming from the Chinese Government but from ordinary citizens who have taken it upon themselves to register their outrage at the supposed promotion of a menace and danger to Chinese pride.
The extent to which the government have brainwashed their own citizens – to the point where they will take up (virtual) arms themselves – is far scarier than any response to the film the government have made directly.
Anyone knows who provides the funding for this film?! Obviously Jeff needs $$ to buy the food and pay the rent.
This is rediculous. Australia film maker make movie for terrorrist. Australian really got no taste and low class. Well, they are the smelly down under anyway. I think Australian has been brain wash by terrorist. Next time the film festival should be held in Hong Kong. Australia oppressive government should release the political prisoner of native aborigin. Free Australia. I think the white oppressive coloniser in Australia has not change much through this year.
@ Fu Lai Jeng – well said, we in Australia should stop being so oppressive and be free, like in China. And yes, the Melbourne International Film Festival should be held in Hong Kong. In return, maybe the Hong Kong Film Festival can be held in Melbourne, that would also make sense.
And it’s true, we are “the smelly” down under.
I saw the film and it made me cry.
Shame on you Fu Lai Jeng. My dad was from Hong Kong and I’ve been to Hong Kong many times and the Hong Kong I know isn’t the screwed up one you’ve described with your tunnel vision. If you can’t think for yourself, please do yourself a favour a stop thinking! I dare you to shout ‘自由’ (freedom) five times in the middle of Tienanmen Square and if you can go on to the sixth time, I salute you!
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