Survivors spared the anguish of film debut

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-6-21  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE premiere of Dreamworks' "Kung Fu Panda" was postponed in southwest China's Sichuan Province to "appease the survivors" of the May 12 earthquake, a Beijing-based newspaper reported yesterday.

The film made its debut on Thursday in Beijing and started to be shown across the country from yesterday, but not in Sichuan, a State Administration of Radio, Film and Television official was quoted by The Beijing News as saying.

The official said the decision was "market-oriented" and was made after provincial cultural authorities consulted with the local cinemas. "As for when the film would be released in Sichuan, it should be decided by the cinemas."

The news was confirmed by Paramount Pictures China, which distributed the film, and five major cinemas in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, according to yesterday's edition of the Beijing Morning Post.

The cinemas issued a statement on Thursday, saying that they decided to postpone the film because "some people do not comprehend the film and thus demurred at it."

"We will introduce the content and cast of the film to the public in an appropriate manner before showing it," the statement said.

China's Internet bulletin boards were buzzing with the debate over whether the cartoon comedy should be boycotted as some were complaining that it "snatched the necklaces and watches from the corpses of disaster victims."

The protest was led by an artist named Zhao Bandi, who accused the film of "exploiting China's 'national treasure' and its martial arts."

Other complaints revolved around the fact its studio was founded by Steven Spielberg who withdrew from his role as an adviser to the Beijing Olympics earlier this year over concerns about China's role in Sudan.