China has a radio and television bureau that strictly controls film and television works. Singapore has more similar government units, such as the Media Development Bureau (MDA) Ministry of Communications and News (MICA) . The supervision of film and television works is also very strict. It cannot have excessive pornographic or violent images, nor insult religious beliefs, nor can homosexuality be described as a normal social development concept...
Many restrictions have made Singapore one of the countries with the most restricted film and television on Netflix for five consecutive years. There is a limit to
, and someone will dance with shackles. Local producers in Singapore are still trying to create in a narrow space, even at the risk of being banned at any time. How big is the "scale" of
? Check out the following 5 banned Singapore movies:
. Star Guo Love To Singapore, With Love (2013)
Director: Chen Binbin
Reason for banning: damage to national security
(Photo source: To Singapore, With Love)
"Star Country Love" is directed by the famous local director Chen Binbin. It uses a documentary to tell the stories of nine people who left Singapore for political reasons and moved abroad between 1960 and 1980. Among them are Communists, former student leaders, and political activists. Through interviews, these people expressed their views on their hometown and commented on sensitive events on Singapore history .
(Photo source: To Singapore, With Love)
This film was listed as a movie "no rating allowed" by the Singapore Media Development Bureau less than one year after its release. The authorities believe that its content "distorts the facts" and seriously damages national security. Even so, "Star Love" has been released in many overseas countries, and some Singaporeans even went to other countries such as Malaysia to watch.
(Photo source: To Singapore, With Love)
. Sex • Violence • Family Value Sex.Violence.FamilyValues (2012)
Director: Guo Zhixuan
Reason for banning: insulting the Indians
(Photo source: Sex.Violence.FamilyValues)
This movie was filmed by writer and director Guo Zhixuan in the now closed nightclub The Butter Factory. The movie consists of three short films. The director said that this is "three dirty stories from the cleanest cities in the world." In the second short film "Porn Curry", Chinese actors use racial insults to tease the racial identity of Indian actors, causing a commotion.
(Photo source: Sex.Violence.FamilyValues) After the trailer of
was released, the movie was considered to have caused an insult to the Indians and was banned when it was about to be officially released. But the short film "Porn Curry" won the audience's favorite short film award at the Gotham Screen Film Festival in New York. In order to release it successfully in Singapore, the director later re-tried the short film, and the film was unblocked a year later.
(Photo source: Sex.Violence.FamilyValues)
. Former Singaporean political prisoner speaks out Dr Lim Hock Siew (2010)
Director: Shi Zhongming
Reason for banning: Violating public interests
(Photo source: Martyn See)
This film is actually Dr. Lin Fushou, the leader of the left in the 1960s, (Dr Lim Hock Siew) 's speech. In 1963, Dr. Lin was arrested and detained for 20 years under the Internal Security Act (ISA) . The film tells the story of the second-longest political detention in Singapore. After the
movie was uploaded to the Internet, the Communications and News Department immediately issued a statement saying that the video was not a fact and asked the director to take the video down. Although this movie can no longer be seen, Dr. Lin’s speech has been widely circulated on the Internet.
(Photo source: Martyn See)
. Zahari’s 17 Years Zahari’s 17 Years (2007)
Director: Shi Zhongming
banned Reason: conveying error message
(Photo source: Martyn See)
This movie tells the story of the famous and political detention criminal Said Zahari (Said Zahari) The life of . Zahari, former editor-in-chief of the Malay Forward, was detained for nearly 17 years under the Internal Security Order after being elected as chairman of the Singapore People’s Party in 1963.
(Photo source: Martyn See)
Director recorded Zahari's experience in detention through interviews. The film was also screened at film festivals abroad. But the Ministry of Communications and News believes that the film mistakenly portrays the detention of political prisoners, undermines public confidence in the government, and needs to be banned.
(Photo source: Martyn See)
. Singapore Rebel Singapore Rebel (2005)
Director: Shi Zhongming
banned reason: threatening national security
(Photo source: Martyn See)
This film is about Singapore Democratic Party (Singapore Democratic Party (Singapore Democratic Party Party) The story of Dr. Xu Shunquan, leader of , (Dr Chee Soon Juan) . The film tells the story of Dr. Xu's interest in the concept of the left and gradually promoted to Secretary-General in the Party.
"Singapore Rebels" was quickly banned after it was broadcast. After 15 months of investigation, its content was found to threaten national security and was prohibited from being broadcast.
(Photo source: Martyn See)
In 2009, the government revised the film law, and "Singapore Rebels" became the first political film to be lifted.
(Photo source: Martyn See)
Since Singapore is a multi-ethnic country, the government has retained relatively conservative practices for politically related film and television works in the past. However, in recent years, relevant regulations such as the Film Act have also gradually changed, and the government may have realized that people's creative freedom needs to be relaxed.
Where is the boundary between art and politics or society? Different people may have different answers in their hearts.
