China Blocks Entry to Scorsese's "Departed": Sources

By REUTERS | The New York Times
January 17, 2007

China's movie censor will not approve Golden Globe-honored film ``The Departed'' for domestic cinematic release due to its mention of a Chinese plan to buy military equipment, government sources said on Wednesday.

Martin Scorsese was named best film director at the Golden Globes on Monday for ``The Departed,'' a crime thriller many think might earn him first Oscar either for best directing or for best film.

``There is no chance 'The Departed' will be shown in mainland cinemas because the U.S. side declined to change a plot line describing how Beijing wanted to buy advanced military computer hardware,'' said onesource.

``That part of the plot is definitely unnecessary,'' added the source, who asked not to be identified as he does not have permission to speak to the foreign media.

``The regulators just cannot understand why the movie wanted to involve China. They can talk about Iran or Iraq or whatever, but there's no reason to get China in,'' added the source, who is close to the country's movie regulator.

Another government source, who also asked for anonymity, confirmed the decision.

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