Australian film altered in China to make gay couple straight. #Australia #China #BBCNews

Key Concepts:

• Censorship of LGBT content in China
• Alteration of a film scene featuring a gay couple
• Backlash from viewers regarding the censorship
• Distributor disapproval of the edit
• Taboo nature of LGBT topics in China

Film Censorship in China: "Together" Case Study

The core issue revolves around the censorship of an Australian horror film, "Together," in Chinese cinemas. Specifically, viewers have identified alterations made to the film, sparking significant backlash.

Specific Scene Alteration:

The most contentious edit involves a scene depicting a gay couple. In the original version of "Together," the scene features two men. However, in the version shown in China, one of the man's faces has been replaced with a woman's face. This alteration is a direct attempt to remove the same-sex relationship from the visual narrative.

Context of LGBT Censorship in China:

The censorship of "Together" is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader trend in China, where LGBT topics are largely considered taboo. Same-sex marriage is not recognized in the country, and media content often undergoes censorship to remove or alter LGBT representation.

Distributor's Response:

Neon, the global distributor of "Together," has publicly stated that they did not approve of the edit made to the film for the Chinese market. Furthermore, Neon has demanded that the censored version of the film no longer be shown. As of the time of the report, the Chinese distributor has not issued a comment on the situation.

Conclusion:

The censorship of "Together" highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBT representation in Chinese media. The alteration of the film, coupled with the distributor's disapproval, underscores the tension between artistic integrity and censorship practices in China. The incident serves as a case study of how LGBT content is often handled in regions where it remains a sensitive topic.