Some films have been labeled as "banned" because of their scale, but it has also stimulated people's curiosity and desire to explore. Below, we will reveal eight controversial banned films for you. I guess you haven't seen any of it. If you've seen it all, you're definitely a ruthless person too.
The first "Summer Palace"
"Summer Palace" is directed by Lou Ye and starring Hao Lei, Guo Xiaodong, Hu Ling and others. The story tells the love story of two literary and artistic young people in the 80s, which lasted more than ten years and spanned the four cities of Beijing, Wuhan, Chongqing and Berlin.
"Summer Palace" is the best literary film in China in the past two decades, and there is no one. But it is also Lou Ye's most controversial work, and he was banned from making films for five years because of this film.
And Hao Lei broke up with her then-boyfriend because of her bold performance in this "Summer Palace".
Part 2: Half Sea and Half Fire
"Half Sea and Half Flame" is directed by Liu Zhan, co-written by Liu Zhan and Wang Shuo, starring Mo Xiaoqi, Liao Fan, Ren Dahua and others. The film is adapted from Wang Shuo's novel "Half of the Fire and Half of the Sea", which tells the story of a woman with a love brain who falls in love with a top scumbag, and the two fall in love and hurt each other.
There are a lot of scenes of pornography and violence in the film, but the core theme of the director's message is love. However, this view of love is difficult to be accepted by the public, and it can even be said to be a painful torture.
In 2008, "Half Sea and Half Fire" won five nominations at the 45th Taiwan Film Golden Horse Awards.
The third "Night Train"
"Night Train" is directed by Diao Yinan, starring Qi Dao, Liu Dan, Liu Yongsheng and others. The film focuses on the work and life of a female bailiff, and tells the story of a woman's mental journey to come out of her inner predicament and bravely face the grim reality.
The director of this film is Diao Yinan, who won the Golden Bear Award for "Fireworks in the Day". And his "Night Train" is particularly bold, with large-scale pictures that are unabashed, coupled with highly controversial themes, it is no surprise that this film was banned.
Despite the twists and turns, the film "Night Train" was selected for the Cannes Film Festival with its in-depth analysis of the plight of the female psyche and its courageous challenge to harsh realities. In addition, the film has also won many awards at the Warsaw Film Festival for new directors and new films. Viewers who have watched this film believe that this is Diao Yinan's best work.
Part 4《孝子贤孙伺候着》
"Filial Sons and Grandsons Waiting" is directed by Chen Peisi and Zeng Jianfeng, starring Chen Peisi, Zhao Lirong, Wei Zongwan, Ding Jiali and others. The film revolves around a fake death incident planned by Er Xiaoniang who is worried that she will be cremated after death, which triggers a series of hilarious and absurd plots.
This is a masterpiece with great comedic charm, through exaggerated plot settings and humorous lines, it brings endless laughter to the audience. The absurdity and bizarre plot of the film transport the audience into an imaginative world, while also subtly revealing the irony and critique of social reality.
Although the film is presented in the form of an exaggerated and hilarious black comedy, the performance requirements for the actors are extremely strict. The performance of every veteran actor in the play is perfect, especially Zhao Lirong's wonderful performance has reached the peak of her career. Whether it's in acting, pacing, or thematic depth, this satirical comedy is impeccable. In just an hour and a half, it shows a high density of irony, which can be called an insurmountable classic of the last century. However, due to the fact that some feudal superstitions were involved in the film, it was once banned.
The fifth "Crying Woman"
"The Crying Woman" is a comedy film directed by Liu Bingjian and starring Liao Qin, Wei Xingkun, Li Longjun and others. This is also Liao Qin's only film.
The film combines ethics and plot, and also incorporates comedic elements. The protagonist is Wang Guixiang, a woman from Guizhou who works hard in Beijing, but her husband is forced to return to her hometown after her husband is imprisoned, and finally becomes a professional funeral practitioner. The film depicts in depth the living conditions of the people at the bottom of mainland society, who are full of power in their inner world despite the hardships of life. Their tears are not weakness, but tenacity to life; Their smiles are not ignorance, but hope for the future.
Director Liu Bingjian used an almost documentary approach to create the image of "Guixiang", and at the same time recorded the true appearance of that era. Because it was too real and brutal, the film was banned. However, the film has not attracted widespread attention in China, but it has been widely praised in the international film industry. She participated in the "Un Certain Regard" section of the 55th Cannes Film Festival, and was awarded the "Special Mention Award" to the actress Liao Qin by the jury.
Part 6 "Back to Back Face to Face"
"Back to Back Face to Face" is directed by Huang Jianxin and Yang Yaya, starring Niu Zhenhua, Lei Kesheng, Full Stop, Xu Xuezheng, Li Qiang, Zhang Jiayi and others.
This film is based on the novella "Autumn Wind Drunk" by writer Liu Xinglong. It mainly tells the story of the process of the deputy director of the cultural center Wang, who was never promoted to the official director during his tenure, despite his best efforts, and started a battle of wisdom with two foreign directors. His attitude towards work has also changed from positive to negative.
The work presents the distorted humanity of the power struggle from a microscopic perspective, while conveying the indifference and repression of society through the use of cold tones and melancholic music. Behind it is an ancient philosophy in Chinese history: if you learn well, you will be a scholar, and if you are not good, you will have children, which is the tragic cycle of Chinese society. The film was banned for a time because it was made too realistic.
The seventh "Singles"
"Singles" is directed by Hao Jie and starring Yang Zhenjun, Ye Lan and others. The film mainly revolves around the daily life and sexual repression of four unconcerned old bachelors - Lao Yang, Liang Datou, Gu Lin, and Liusoft in Gujiagou Village, Hebei Province.
The film uses humor to reveal the life process of these four old bachelors, their optimism and bitterness, helplessness and longing, which are both unbearable and thought-provoking. Director Hao Jie uses superb lens language to deeply portray the inner world of these bachelors and the rural environment they live in, presenting a real and absurd rural picture.
The film has a documentary-like realism, rough and raw. It truly reflects the original ecological stories of China's remote areas, and the most authentic is often the roughest, most direct, and most straightforward. The film dares to touch on sensitive topics such as cheating, PC, homosexuality, etc., and it is shockingly real.
It is worth mentioning that except for a few roles, all the actors are local villagers in Gujiagou, some of them play themselves, and some of them play others.
Part 8 "Mr. Zhao"
"Mr. Zhao" is directed by Lu Le, starring Shi Jingming, Zhang Zhihua, Chen Yinan, Jiang Wenli and others. The film mainly tells a series of stories triggered by the extramarital affair between Mr. Zhao, a university professor, and Tian Jing, a student.
The film is set in ordinary life, exuding the atmosphere of the market everywhere, but there is no waste of drama, every dialogue is just right, accurately showing the relationship between the characters and social phenomena, and deeply touching the hearts of the audience. Among them, the entanglement between Mr. Zhao and his wife, the third and fourth children is exactly the dilemma that people faced in the pursuit of material and spiritual satisfaction in that era. The unique charm of "Mr. Zhao" is that it not only reveals the world of male emotions and reflects the anxieties of the times, but also deeply analyzes the fragility of human nature.
Although the film did not feature large-scale scenes or shots, it was banned for eight years until 2006, when it was allowed to be released on DVD. Some say it's the best "extramarital affair movie" in China, and there isn't one of them.
How many of the above eight banned movies have you watched?