Just minutes before the movie Summer Palace (Serbian: Letnja Palata) that was supposed to open Novi festival autorskog filma in Dvorana Kulturnog Centra cinema rolled, Serbian authories came to the rescue and pulled the movie off the Festival because apparently China threatened to freeze all diplomatic activities with Serbia if the movie is shown. Infact, China said that they will cut all diplomatic ties with any country that plays the movie, and requested that all the tapes be confiscated and handed over to them. Hmmm…
Movie is problematic in Chinese goverment’s eyes because it mentiones events from Tiananmen Square that took place in 1989, when student protest was violantely crushed with the help from military. It is estimated that more than 1000 people lost their lives that day, also known as the Tiananmen Square massacre. Ever since, Chinese goverment is trying to hide the fact that this event ever took place. Pretty ridicolous and yet terrifying stuff.
But, however ridicolous that may sound, two things are not clear to me:
How come the Serbian goverment can influence the independent festival board so much that they decide to take the movie off, and
what kind of consequences could Serbia have suffered had the movie been shown after all? What, no more cheap Chinese merchandise? No more SQNY, Reabok, Nyke, and other quality goods? What do we get from China that is so important and that we have to obey what they say in order not to lose their support? Support for what?
Ok, seriously now, i understand that China is a big player today, and even India had to pull the movie from its theatres, but I’m really interested to find out what they will do now since the movie was already shown in Cannes? It seems that France doesn’t care much what China says.
Epilogue of todays Belgrade thriller is that the festival board director, Dinko Tucakovic resigned from his position, obviously not satisfied with how things turned out. I honestly can’t say i blame him.
Rumours say that the movie was nevertheless shown at the festival later, but the bitter taste of the “Chinese style” censorship still remains.
Update: Ministry of culture denies censorship by saying the organizers decided not to show the film after goverment urged them not to show it.
If it looks like a censorship, smells like a censorship and talks like a censorship i’d say that it is censorship no matter what they try to call it.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
At least they haven’t invaded 15% of our territory, unlike certain other “big players” aka Great Powers. But yeah, this is kind of disturbing. Still, I don’t see what the alternative was. Sticking two fingers up at a authoritarian Communist regime in control of more than a fifth of the world’s population? I have a feeling that wouldn’t have gone down too well…
The Serbian government is probably hoping for China to return the favor some time in 2007. Just in case Russia fails to do so.
I don’t think that just because of one film China would direct its global policies regarding the status of Kosovo-Metohija. Therefore, I find this censure as pure idiotism.
Latest news say that the movie will be shown tomorrow two times with free entrance. Maybe it’s our symbolic way of showing two fingers up at China after all, who knows? Anyhow we’ll see if China has anything to say about that.
Dont be surprised if Serbian government Ministers have spoken with Chinese officials on this and been given the go ahead.
Such talks might be along the lines of ‘remember how unimportant the opinion of our little country is on Tiannenmen, we are not a Western state and we support your government without reserve’
As a world citizen I’m outraged at this insane display of neglect towards Serbia’s citizens! Not that anyone would or is listening but, I’d call for protests througout Serbia and the R/S.
I would also advocate the pirating of this move over and over again to simply show the ignorant government that the people can not be silenced! I’ll even start it! I’ll get a copy and burn it and bring it with me the next time I enter Serbia and pass it on to those who sell these movies!
It’s a shame and pitiful when a government can deny its people the right to choose for themselves!
Pirate and burn this movie over and over and pass it on for free to others if you have the means and funds to do so to protect your rights! I will!
John
Unfortiantely Serbia at this stage has not got many allies across the world. In the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, we only have few allies and one of the most important ones is China. I do not believe in justice in this world, because it appears that everything is a lie. Its not like EU and USA are angels who only care about the human rights. CIA secret jails ring a bell?
So out of startegic reasons I am in favor of not showing this movie. But please dont understand me wrong, China is no angle either. I am strongly against of what they did and how they are trying to hide it, but we have to look is whats in Serbias best interest.
Ivan! Are you serious? Bro, it’s not about justice as you see it! Its about doing what is right for the people! Serbia has allies you do not know about! China is only trying to use Serbia as a pawn and in turn is using you and her citizens as pawns in this never ending game of shit.
Justice comes on and by an individual basis, not what one perceives it to be for all. You are hindering the very justice you speak of! Who cares about the CIA, the EU, the USA or anyone else! What matters is the people!
The people should be allowed to choose for themselves wheather or not to rent or buy this video; not some corrupt politicians!
I’m sorry but, it seems like you are making a deal with the devil for what appears to be “better” on the surface. Scrape away the scum on this surface and you will have your answer!
John
I’d say that this is just a decision made too fast and without much thinking by our goverment/Ministry of culture to listen to Chinese request. Now when they thought about it for a day and when everybody criticized them in the past two days they finaly realised that they made a mistake, so the movie will be shown after all. But the fact that they made a mistake still remains and will hardly be forgotten. Talk about a free advertisement for a movie… Funny thing is, Tiananment events are not the main focus in the film, but are simply mentioned as a background story.
Dear John,
I’m glad you are so concerned about democracy in Serbia, but, somehow, I think there is no less democracy here in Serbia, than in some western, democratic countries.
I wish you could advocate SHOWING some movies,about the truth what happened to Serbia and Serbian people since 1990. untill this very day (in Kosovo), to ignorant American and Europian governments. Just to show THEM that people and the truth can not be silenced!
It’s a shame, also, that American and European people don’t have the right to choose for themselves, instead of swallowing everything their government serves them.
I would like to give you some “pirate” movies about suffering of Serbian people, which Western governments insistently avoid to show to their citizens, so next time you leave Serbia you can pass them to YOUR government, for start.
My intention is not to offend you, but since you haven’t lived here in Serbia for last 15 years, your words sounds somewhat shallow… Believe me, we have much bigger problems here then this Chinese movie.
Regards from Belgrade
John,
You heard of the saying “ Power to the People”. Well to me thats a big lie. What power do the common people have? None.
I agree with Vesan totally. Serbia itself has got more stories to tell that ofcourse West does not want to hear about. When Srebrnica video came out, Belgrade was one of the first countries to broadcast it, and the whole world was roaming about it for the next week. When Oluja video came out, the West refused to broadcast it? Why I wonder.
But to go back to the subject, we as common people should have the individual concience, but on the political level we need to have a strategic thinking. I am glad that the movie will be shown, but I hope that by showing this it will not affect the strategic relations Serbia has with China.
As my grandmother used to say “ politics is a whore” , so you better know how to get the best outcome.
Regards,
Ivan
Hohn,
“it seems like you are making a deal with the devil”
Funny, that’s the same what Churchil said when signing alliance with Stalin.
I agree with Ivan and Vesna. Many of the movies that prove that Serbs were also suffering are prohibited in the West. Why’s that? Maybe they prove the double standards that occured during the wars by the West.
What would happen if a film came out in US proving that Bin Laden was recruited and supported from the CIA to assist the Talibans against the Soviets during the 80s? Would the US government sit and allow it? I doubt that.
Now, as Ivan’s grandmother said “politics is a whore” and if the price of having China as a strategic partner was not showing the film, so be it, but I also find it hilarious that China would risk they’re relations with us because of one film.
However, I’m glad that it will be shown after all.
You guys have some funny ways of reading too much into things. I WASN’T ATTACKING SERBIA!!!???? Jebiga!
Give me some links to these movies and I’ll promote them with no problem!
INSANE!
Come on John don’t take it all that hard
Nobody suggested that you’re attacking Serbia, quite the contrary. We just want to clarify the double standards existing regarding the film policies.
As far as the links are conserned, give me please some time, cause now I’m a bit busy. Maybe the others can find something (Estavisti!!!)
Cheers
John,
nobody is attacking you, as Cvijus said, we are just trying to comment on the double standards in the world, and since the world is like this we should learn to play the game.
By the way Draskovic fired one of the associates for giving a call to the Festival advising not to broadcast the movie. He said that she did not use the right communication channels for that and in the end she would not have been approved to advise the festival not to broadcast the movie. He said that she would have been advised to call the Chinese embassy and advise them that Serbia is a democratic country and the governement can not influence independent film festivals.
In the end we are advocating the same thing, but what I am saying is that the so called justice in the world, or the “democracy “ in the world are romantic stories for children. We should learn how to play the game, and that does not mean that we are selling the soul to the devil.
I thought I took it pretty well..LOL
What kind of stung a bit was the “shallow” comment given the fact that I have a Serbian son living just outside Beograd after caring for him from the age of nine.
That alone, I feel, gives me the right to comment on things relating to Serbia being that I am not Serbian.
Sorry if I came off as pissed! I was more saddened than anything I guess. I’m a big boy though:)
John
As a general rule i would agree with Vesna, Cvijus and Ivan but in this particular case i would have to back John. Cooperation with other countries would have to have it’s limits when it comes to trying to change the freedom of speech of another country, i.e. If we don’t interfere with Chinese decision to ban the movie, than they don’t have any right to interfere with our or anybody else’s decision to show it.
As Ivan said, the person responsible for this mistake from our side was fired from her position yesterday, according to the officials, but i’m afraid she was merely a scapetgoat and that those who were really behind this will never be held responsible. I would say that city’s culture secretary, Darijan Mihajlovic but also Kostunica’s advisor Vladeta Jankovic are most responsible, maybe even someone with more authority than these two.
Keep up the great work! Look forward to reading more from you in the future. I think it will be also nice if you add “send to email” tool so people can forward the articles to their friends easily.