BEIJING-China's state-run television network shocked viewers by
broadcasting "V for Vendetta", an anarchist-themed film showing an
uprising against an authoritarian government.
Chinese Internet users expressed surprise after watching the broadcast,
circulating subversive lines from the movie including: "The people
should not be afraid of the government, the government should be afraid
of the people."
The film was screened in prime
time on CCTV 6--the state broadcaster's movie channel. But its title was
translated as "V Special Forces", rather than the more lurid "V the
Revenge Killing Squad" previously used in China.
"Am I dreaming?" one user of Sina Weibo--a website similar to
Twitter--wrote after seeing the broadcast, joining thousands of others
who posted similar messages.
The film was once banned in mainland China, the state-run China Youth Daily reported, and was not shown in Chinese cinemas.
Web users wondered if the broadcast indicated a relaxation of
censorship--though most were skeptical that it indicated any major
change in policy.
"It's not easy for a film with
this kind of content to be broadcast on CCTV, I'm not sure if it's a
signal, I'll wait and see," one Sina Weibo user wrote.
CCTV did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP on Friday.
The film, starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, is set in a
dystopian version of Britain, and portrays a bold, charismatic freedom
fighter known as "V", who ignites a revolution against the totalitarian
regime.
The lead character's black and white
mask has become a symbol for anti-authoritarian activists across the
world, with online hacking group Anonymous choosing it as their symbol.
Anonymous claimed to be behind an an attack on Chinese government
website in April, when government home pages were replaced with messages
criticising China for controlling Internet access.--AFP
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