The only Asian film in the running for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Lou Ye’s Summer Palace is causing a fair bit of trouble for the director with the international relationship department of China’s government certification board.

This has cuminated in the director suggesting that he may cut the film to comply with the censors’ demands. “I would do just about anything to ensure the film can be seen in China. That is very important,” Lou told reporters on Thursday.

“Summer Palace,” set against the backdrop of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, has caused a stir in China where government censors refused to approve it before its premiere on Thursday at the festival.

They cited flaws technical with film print that was submitted to them, according to the producers.

Approval by China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television is pivotal for Chinese filmmakers because, if a movie is shown outside the country before it has their approval, the board may try to block its release in China.

(Thanks to The Melon Farmers for the heads up)

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