China’s First Parental Advisory Warning: Logan

Logan was the first film required to include a parental advisory warning under China’s newly implemented Film Industry Promotion Law. The X-Men spin-off premiered on Wednesday 1 March 2017, the same day that the Film Law came into effect. Article 20 of that law states that for films that “might attract minors or other audiences that are physically or psychologically inappropriate, a warning should be given.” Thus in printed and online promotional materials, and at points of sale for tickets, people are advised that “Primary school students and pre-school children should be accompanied by parents of a guardian”. Elementary school students in China would typically range between six and 12 years of age.

The State Administration for Print, Publications, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) has been careful to emphasise that this is not a classification system. The head of SAPPRFT’s Film Bureau, Zhang Hongsen, clarified that the statement is a guide rather than a rating system. No restrictions regarding the age of viewers at particular films are required by cinemas. In Logan’s case, the film was subject to pre-screening examination and cuts, with approximately 14 minutes of footage removed from the version exhibited elsewhere, specifically sections including violence and brief nudity. Logan was rated category III (18+) in Hong Kong and R (17+) by the Motion Picture Association of America. Commentators have noted that for its release in China the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge voluntarily included a warning that it was not suitable viewing for children less than 12 years of age. Only 30 seconds of content were cut in China from that otherwise violent war drama. The content of both films indicates that China’s censorship system does not straightforwardly preclude audiences seeing content available elsewhere. As in other contexts historically, the absence of age-based ratings allows young people to view films from which they would be excluded overseas. – Liam Grealy