Recently, because of the screening of The Da Vinci Code, the topic of film classification management is once again widely discussed. Research specialist on young people, Sun Yunxiao, loudly urged China to establish a system for classifying movies as soon as possible after he watched the movie. From his point of view, The Da Vinci Code is so mysterious it appears to be more like a horror film and lacks aesthetics and artistic flavor and not suitable for primary school students. The latter not only cannot understand this film, they may develop fear complexes that can affect their psychological health. 　　

 

On May 23rd, Chinese Youth Daily social survey center and Sohu News jointly sponsored a survey of 2,171 people that also indicates 54% of those who have seen the Da Vinci movie believe the film is not suitable for children.

 

　

 

The absence of a film classification system affects not only children, the survey shows, because 17.4% of those surveyed believe they miss many award winning films because of the absence of such a system. For example, two films earned high praises and lavish awards at the Oscars, Crash that delineates in detail racial contradictions but includes a lot of rough language dialogue as well as Brokeback Mountain that is moving but involves the subject of homosexuality, have not been shown in China. 　　

 

Possibly because the absence of film classifications has doubly affected both adults and children, many have called for "Let children watch what is appropriate for them and adults the same." The survey shows that 95.4% of those surveyed agree that China should set up a film classification system. 　

 

People working in the film industry are even more interested in film classification. "For General Audience" is a standard that needs to take into account the appreciation ability and level of people of all ages and have become one of the biggest headaches for film directors. 　　

 

The newest take on film classification came from Zhang Pimin, vice director of the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television. He said on April 17 when he attended the opening ceremony of the 2006 Chinese Film Festival in Washington D.C. that this system is "currently being studied."

 

(Chinanews.cn June 1, 2006)