The re-release of the Taiwanese film "A City of Sadness" (1989), starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, has been abruptly suspended. The film had originally been scheduled to screen in theaters nationwide on the 6th.
According to the film industry on the 5th, the Korea Association of Arthouse Cinemas recently decided to halt screenings of "A City of Sadness." The decision came after the original rights holder raised an objection. Chiu Fu-sheng, producer at ERA International, reportedly sent an official letter to the association stating that he had never sold the rights for the planned re-release in Korea.
In a statement posted on social media, the Korea Association of Arthouse Cinemas said, "After reviewing the original rights holder's formal request to withdraw the screening and the explanatory materials from the importer, we decided to halt screenings at member theaters nationwide." It added, "In a situation where the original rights holder is denying the legitimacy of this print, we judged that pushing ahead with screenings would not be consistent with the public values that arthouse cinemas have upheld and the trust of audiences."
Importer and distributor A-Some Pictures said in a statement, "We have confirmed that a copyright issue has arisen regarding this work and have notified the relevant seller of the matter. We are doing our utmost to resolve the issue amicably through careful and lawful procedures." A-Some Pictures reportedly purchased the rights from a French distributor.
"A City of Sadness" is a film based on the "February 28 Incident," in which Chiang Kai-shek's government forcibly suppressed Taiwanese people demanding "Taiwan's independence" in 1947, depicting the tragedy of a family swept up in the waves of history. The February 28 Incident refers to the event on Feb. 28, 1947, when Chiang Kai-shek's government, which had crossed over from mainland China, forcibly suppressed Taiwanese people staging protests demanding "Taiwan's independence." Directed by Taiwanese master Hou Hsiao-hsien and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the film generated significant attention upon its release. It is especially regarded as a representative work of the Taiwanese New Wave, winning the top Golden Lion award at the 46th Venice International Film Festival in 1989 and earning high praise among film enthusiasts.
