Jet Li Calls for Relaxation of Censorship in Chinese Film

It is remarkable that the most groundbreaking, important movies being made today tend to come out of east Asia (even if east Asia is facing increasingly stiff competition from Mexico in this respect). Hollywood, it is true, has never placed a particularly high value on artistic freedom; but even they surely aren't as repressive as the Chinese government, which has the power to exercise total control over films made in that country. With this in mind, it is sobering to realize that, in the last fifteen years or so, China has been able to produce a far greater number of noteworthy films than the U.S. This doesn't mean, however, that Chinese artists aren't unhappy with the level of censorship in their own country. Jet Li ("Hero") recently called for a relaxation of censorship; one day later, Han Saping, the chairman of China Film Group, called for more patriotism in Chinese film. Referring to China's economic progress, he said, "There can't be anyone who makes fun of it. People who do either have ulterior motives or they're mentally challenged."