China has a strict limit on the number of foreign films allowed to be shown in theaters here,

I hope that this limit will be set to much lower numbers comparing to present. The lower foreign films, the better. It'll be best for China.

It is better for Chinese people, as you can see less computer generated fantasy lands and less foreign propaganda. Focus instead at local art and local problems. In capitalism, it cames into conflict with upper class who get money from distribution of foreign films.

@danabrams

Goverment should decide such global things, not people who pay the money.
If ordinary people start completely determinate contents of your nearest cinema (and it never exist in any country) it'll be quite bad.

I'm with VK. If they don't set limits, chances are it'll be all Americanized crap before long.

I'm with VK. If they don't set limits, chances are it'll be all Americanized crap before long.

If it isn't already.

@brianluce

What took you so long? :-)

We are not talking censorship, we are talking about presenting people their habits, their life and their problems. Under strick control. All this things about "playing with big boys" do not cost a dime.
Proper way is exactly opposite, protect your people, develop your own infrastructure, artists and approaches, and after this take "open" market of others ( in America nothing like "open cinema market" exist, all filtering is done via major studios, distributors and cinema networks, nothing random or unnecessary can pass this).

@Vitaliy That's a fair point that US film markets are closed. And there's a danger too of Hollywood tentpole movies sucking all the Oxygen out of the local market. I just question the concept of artistic protectionism as well as the notion of limiting film to "Local" themes and "Local" problems. To my mind, presenting a universal theme in local packaging is better.

And btw, I disagree that I disagree with you all the time. :)

France is a relatively good model for film making. France was able to develop its own film industry without letting Hollywood stomp all over its own internal market. France now enjoys a nice blend of its own commercially successful internal works, as well as the might of Hollywood.

The same didn't happen happen in the UK unfortunately, although it is starting to enjoy some growth over the past decade.

It's a shame that Hollywood's vice like grip on audiences has conditioned them to 'expect' a certain type of movie. I think China is doing the right thing, even it if comes off a bit heavy handed and censored....but that's their way. Rather than restrictions, I'd like to see financial incentives, i.e. tax waiver on domestic products (from production through to ticket sales), price fixing, grants.

Aren't American films these days mostly recycled Hong Kong flicks? Apart from that historical glitch, Vitaliy has some good points. Besides China can't afford to go down the American debt road. There's not enough money in this wing of the spiral arm galaxy for that. However, should China (sadly) adopt the American "market" approach to its film industry, I would enjoy a glum future of Americans being forced to watch recycled Chinese export crap of their own recycled crap.

Ok lets try that agen!

China's film industries = "the diplomat". " The Founding of a Republic" etc...ect

Propaganda and self boasting.

I hope the good people of China can get a chance to make truthfull and meaningful films without being persecuted. When that happens we will see a hole new world of cinema.

China can make excellent films - dont pay attention the melodromatic Rape of Nanjing movies they make every month. You would think that with time things would open up a bit but they take a step back. Yes China can 'play with the big boys' - ever see Farewell My Concubine? ( almost 20 yrs ago!)

@brianluce

"Americans make the best movies" that's a pretty bold statement

some good movies are made in north americans, mainly outside hollywood, but a lot of the best movies are not american and even less out of hollywood.

@Vitaliy_Kiselev said: "It is better for Chinese people, as you can see less computer generated fantasy lands and less foreign propaganda."

Interesting point. So instead you rather see a censorship Committee who with a 99.9% chance will still feed the People of the People's Republic with a slightly different internal propaganda? I'm sure it won't be much different from what they have now. :(

We used to have that in Portugal you know? It was under the dictatorship times and luckily we threw them out in 1974 on April the 25th, which is now called Liberty Day. Some old farts here still miss those days when nobody could badmouth the Government, women couldn't vote or leave the country without their husband saying so or nurses couldn't get married among a few other interesting human being limitations all in the collective interest of a few great minds...Yes there was less crime in those days, but the price was people being 10x poorer and 10x more ignorant. I was 2 at the time, but my parents who lived through those times haven't miss them one single day.

I will not get into political discussions as they inevitably turn sour quickly and because I also admire Communism, but just not the way we saw it in the old URSS or in China not very long ago. I think it just works better the way it was implemented by the Social Democrats in Sweden in the 80's and later until 2006. Working for a bigger common good is what separates advanced societies from the primitive, now if it's at the expense of personal freedom, I rather live in anarchy.