M'sia bans HK film on 2019 protests, China ties among reasons
Fion Yap
Published: Jun 10, 2022 7:30 AM
The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia (LPF) has banned a Hong Kong film from screening in Malaysia for allegedly glorifying violent protests and for its potential to affect Malaysia-China bilateral relations.
The film, ‘May You Stay Forever Young’, depicts a 17-year-old girl’s attempt to kill herself during the massive anti-extradition protests in Hong Kong and her friends’ efforts to rescue her.
The film is based on the anti-Beijing protests in Hong Kong in 2019, where several youths took their own lives.
The film was nominated for Best New Director and Best Editing in Taiwan’s Golden Horse Award 2021 and it also won the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award.
In a letter that Malaysiakini got to see, the LPF informed the distribution company that the film was not approved for screening due to six reasons.
“The film is themed around political issues in Hong Kong following massive demonstrations opposing the amendments to the Extradition Bill in Hong Kong. It portrayed a group of teenagers who joined the demonstration to the point of being willing to kill oneself.
“The film was banned from screening in China and has not yet been screened in Hong Kong. It is understood that the film was not submitted to the Hong Kong Film Censorship Board and, therefore, it has not been allowed to screen so far,” the letter states.
In the same letter, which is dated May 31, the LPF said the film aimed to “draw attention and sympathy from the world towards the predicament of Hong Kongers and in the hope that world leaders will pressure the Hong Kong government to change its stance while glorifying the protesters' struggle”.
“The film depicts extreme violence and abuse of power by the police against protesters in dealing with the issue of illegal gatherings and riots.
“The film also carries a message that normalises the extreme demonstrations in protesting against any policy of a country that can give unhealthy teachings to the audience in Malaysia,” said the board.
The censorship authority under the Home Ministry also said that the Foreign Ministry has been consulted over this matter.
“The Foreign Ministry is of the opinion that the screening of this film in Malaysia will affect the bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.
“The Malaysian government does not want to make Malaysia a base of irresponsible parties to promote any anti-government or third-country stance in Malaysia, which is worried to have implications on bilateral relations between Malaysia and other countries,” the letter read.
Malaysiakini has contacted the LPF for comment.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/624140
Fion Yap
Published: Jun 10, 2022 7:30 AM
The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia (LPF) has banned a Hong Kong film from screening in Malaysia for allegedly glorifying violent protests and for its potential to affect Malaysia-China bilateral relations.
The film, ‘May You Stay Forever Young’, depicts a 17-year-old girl’s attempt to kill herself during the massive anti-extradition protests in Hong Kong and her friends’ efforts to rescue her.
The film is based on the anti-Beijing protests in Hong Kong in 2019, where several youths took their own lives.
The film was nominated for Best New Director and Best Editing in Taiwan’s Golden Horse Award 2021 and it also won the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award.
In a letter that Malaysiakini got to see, the LPF informed the distribution company that the film was not approved for screening due to six reasons.
“The film is themed around political issues in Hong Kong following massive demonstrations opposing the amendments to the Extradition Bill in Hong Kong. It portrayed a group of teenagers who joined the demonstration to the point of being willing to kill oneself.
“The film was banned from screening in China and has not yet been screened in Hong Kong. It is understood that the film was not submitted to the Hong Kong Film Censorship Board and, therefore, it has not been allowed to screen so far,” the letter states.
In the same letter, which is dated May 31, the LPF said the film aimed to “draw attention and sympathy from the world towards the predicament of Hong Kongers and in the hope that world leaders will pressure the Hong Kong government to change its stance while glorifying the protesters' struggle”.
“The film depicts extreme violence and abuse of power by the police against protesters in dealing with the issue of illegal gatherings and riots.
“The film also carries a message that normalises the extreme demonstrations in protesting against any policy of a country that can give unhealthy teachings to the audience in Malaysia,” said the board.
The censorship authority under the Home Ministry also said that the Foreign Ministry has been consulted over this matter.
“The Foreign Ministry is of the opinion that the screening of this film in Malaysia will affect the bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.
“The Malaysian government does not want to make Malaysia a base of irresponsible parties to promote any anti-government or third-country stance in Malaysia, which is worried to have implications on bilateral relations between Malaysia and other countries,” the letter read.
Malaysiakini has contacted the LPF for comment.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/624140
