The Chinese film, Summer Palace, reportedly failed to get the necessary release certificate from the Chinese Film Bureau yesterday to go on to compete at the Cannes Film Festival. Director Lou Ye's assistant denies this report.

 

The assistant says that the director is still in post-production on the film and so it is not now known whether or not the film will make it to Cannes. 　　

 

When the film was nominated, it had not been finished, nor had it received a release certificate.

 

　

 

Summer Palace is the only Asian film that has entered the 59th Annual Cannes Film Festival, which will be held on the 17th of this month. 　　

 

The film touches on some "very sensitive subject matter" in modern-day China. 　　

 

With the Cannes Film Festival just over a week away, time is really running out for Summer Palace.

 

(CRI May 9, 2006)