Censorship in Movies 4

Some obvious differences between two Chinese films and relating to the time period were the technology and fashion.  There were many more bikes and vehicles in the modern film while the 50’s saw more walking and even men pulling carts with passengers themselves.  Director Zhang Yimou would have had to have been much more careful in how he portrayed a modern China than when he portrayed a 1950’s China.  Thus his modern rendition of China followed along more strictly with the Chinese censorship guidelines to make sure he made a profit and didn’t get in trouble with the government of that time.

I believe the film that gave a better view of the communist party was the first one: To Live.  This is because it seemed to convey the misery and death associated with that time, along with all the hype that followed the communist party and subsequently Chairman Mao.  To Live also seemed to portray Communism in a more negative light than other movies.  The scenes that did show communism in a favorable light seemed artificial and contrived, leading me to believe Zhang was satirical in his “positive” view on communism.  Even in the second film, the many levels and government and a questionable solution at the end using a legal loophole pokes fun at Chinese government as a whole in a subtle manner.  This leads me to believe the director was trying to make a film that convinced the government that it was portraying China in a positive light, when actually carried a subtle message that would be understood by the masses who dealt with said issues on a daily basis.  Justice had been served, but not because of the efficiency or fairness of the Chinese government, but rather a legal loophole.