Payback time...............

I do not know how many times it has happened with you, but I can recall various occasions when I and others I know, have returned from a movie totally disappointed. No, not because it was a bad movie but because it turned out to be too heavily censored.

It is not a well kept secret that the success of “Film Festivals” at one time depended on the collection of “bold” films that would form part of the “World Cinema Panorama”. These films would be much sought after among the discerning audience not for the fancy camera work, or play of light and shadow or distinctive editing techniques, but because of the various bold scenes. French cinema and various East European cinemas would fit the bill (not that they were otherwise deviod of rich cinematic content, but then, who's watching that!).

These scenes would be well publicised by the festival organisers through the media by organising discussion forums and seminars featuring the local cognoscenti and the intelligentsia.

However, occasionally some of these films would go through limited editing. The so called film crazy public will wait in long queues to buy "tax free" tickets to these shows. After the first few shows, not surprisingly, word will go around that the movie is a dud (read censored). Ticket queues would disappear overnight and you’ll hear the “intellectuals” rue the death of artistic freedom.

Well here’s the story of a guy who gave it right back (see full report). He sued the censor board for censoring the steamy scenes….now…Why did I not think of that!!!

"A Chinese moviegoer is suing China's film watchdog in frustration with the censored version of Ang Lee's steamy World War Two drama Lust, Caution , Beijing media reported Wednesday.
The Golden Lion award-winning film opened in China last month minus much of the on-screen sex and other scenes that Taiwan-born director Lee cut himself at the behest of local censors"