Taiwanese director Ang Lee (李安) has criticized a reported Chinese media ban on his protege, actress Tang Wei (湯唯), who became a huge star with the leading role in his award-winning spy thriller Lust, Caution.
Chinese regulators have ordered TV stations in Beijing and Shanghai to stop reporting on Tang and to pull any advertisements featuring the actress, Chinese media reported in recent days.
The reason for the ban, which hasn't been officially announced, was not immediately clear.
But Lust, Caution has drawn attention because it portrays explicit sex and unpatriotic behavior. An edited version of the movie became a box office hit in China.
In the movie, Tang plays a student activist who seduces a Japanese-allied Chinese intelligence official in World War II-era Shanghai to pave the way for his assassination, only to give away the plot at the last minute.
In a statement e-mailed to wire agencies, Lee said he was disappointed by the reported ban and praised Tang's performance.
"I am very disappointed that Tang Wei is being hurt by this decision. She gave one of the greatest performances ever in a movie that was properly produced and distributed. We will do everything we can to support her in this difficult time," Lee said.
Unknown before Lust, Caution, Tang became a household name in the Chinese-speaking world with her role in the movie.
Lee was aware of Chinese worries about Lust, Caution. He cut the movie's sexually explicit scenes and edited a line so Tang's character would appear less of a traitor to the Chinese cause.
The reported ban against Lust, Caution would mark the second time this year that China took action against people involved in a film that had been approved for release by state censors.
In a notice on its Web site last week, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television reaffirming its rules against films with sexually risque, violent or supernatural content or those that "degraded the image of revolutionary leaders, heroes and important historical figures."
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