Who cares what we believe, just as long as those with different opinions or alternative perspectives shut the hell up.
Comparisons between the riots in Urumqi and 9/11 are not quite right (a closer parallel can be found in the race riots which swept US cities during the 1960s), but even if we are to swallow hook, line, and spoon-fed sinker the CCP campaign to equate RK with Osama Bin Laden, it still does not justify the actions of those who are trying to get the film removed from the Melbourne Festival.
If, for example, Beijing hosted a film festival that included a puff-piece propaganda film celebrating Bin Laden (I’m not saying that’s what Jeff Daniels’ movie does with RK, but that’s the way it has been presented by the Chinese media), then I would jump at the chance to go. Why? Because who wouldn’t want to ask the filmmakers tough questions about how their narrative was constructed or how they justified certain positions? At the very least, some insight might be gleaned into the inner motivations of a man who clearly sees the world very differently than I do.
I’ve not seen Daniels’ movie, so I’m not judging it good or bad, but I do think the filmmakers and the organizers have the right to show the film without harassment or intimidation, and viewers should have the opportunity for critical, intelligent, and reasoned debate regarding the ideas expressed in the documentary.
Xinhua “quoted several mainstream directors to voice their like-minded indignation over the politicization of what should be ‘a platform for cultural and artistic exchanges.’” As if nothing in China is ever political.
I saw a brief interview with the filmmaker the other day where he said he had tried numerous times to get the Chinese government’s side of the story, but no one would consent to putting forward their views on camera. I don’t know anything about his background, but he sounded like he genuinely wanted to investigate and be a bit more critical, but was frustrated by the bureaucratic brick wall.
Remember all those American directors pulling their films out of Cannes 2004 when they heard that Fahrenheit 9/11 was going to be part of it? Oh . . . . yeah . .
Isn’t one sticking point that RK is actually attending the festival? You might see a film about BL, but having him present would be another matter (not that I agree with the comparison, but that does appear to be the way a lot of Chinese people see it).
CPC works in mysterious way. Ordinary mortals can not possibly fathom its intentions. But I respect the position of film director Jia Zhangke has to withdraw his work, it’s within his personal rights.
I haven’t seen The Ten Conditions of Love, about Rebiya Kadeer either – it was reviewed by Julie Rigg on http://www.abc.net.au/rn/movietime/stories/2009/2641435.htm
she called it a ‘hagiography’.
I sense a complex subtext abounds around this whole site and it may be more than a case of censorship at work here? What do you think?
cheers Jeni
http://jenithornleydoco.blogspot.com/