Censors have approved the release of a more sexually explicit version of a film already on circuit in a tamer form, after it won an award at the Berlin Film Festival, an official said yesterday.
Government censors in December approved a version of The Wayward Cloud (
The uncut version of the film won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival this month and Tsai afterwards returned it to censors in its fuller form.
A 15-member government committee voted on Thursday that the production could be released as an R-rated film without any censorship, an official said.
"Nine committee members voted against cutting the movie while five preferred partial cuts and one asked the film banned," government film division official Pan Tsun-yun (Lindy can't find characters) said.
The Wayward Cloud describes the relationship between a woman who returns from studying in Paris and a man who acts in porn movies.
It has sparked controversy here for explicit depiction of sexual activities.
Tsai told reporters after the film was approved: "I like the results that some members voted against my film because my work is open to discussions."
He has been praised as one of the country's most influential directors and has won various international awards for his work, including the FIPRESCI award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for The Hole, a Silver Bear at the 1996 Berlin Film Festival for The River and a Golden Lion at the 1994 Venice Film Festival for Vive L'Amour.
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