Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, has been a box office success as it has grossed over $370 million worldwide and it has earned five Golden Globe nominations. This is impressive as it reached these numbers without the film being released in China.
Originally Once Upon A Time in Hollywood had been scheduled to be released in Chinese theaters on October 25th earlier this year. But that was all put on hold after Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, filed a complaint to China’s National Film Administration objecting the film’s depiction of her late father. Variety caught up with Lee during a gala event where she commented on the complaint. “I had just complained there as I complained here, but obviously through China channels. But really, their decision to do whatever they did with that movie was their decision,” Lee said.
It is unknown whether or not her complaint was the sole factor in China holding the release, or if the depictions of violence could have also played a part in their decision. Back in 2012, Tarantino’s film Django Unchained was held due to graphic content, but the director edited the film to allow it’s release. In this case, Tarantino had confirmed that he would not re-cut Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.
Lee oversee’s her father’s estate and her problem with the film is that she says that it depicts her father as arrogant. “I really do think [‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’] did a disservice to him, I think it did a disservice to Asian actors and I think that it was really a shame,” said Lee. Tarantino had defended his depiction of Bruce Lee during a press conference in Moscow, Russia where he said that, “Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy. The way he was talking, I didn’t just make a lot of that up. I heard him say things like that, to that effect. If people are saying, ‘Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali,’ well yeah, he did. Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. She absolutely said that.”
Despite their difference, Lee said that although she had not spoken with Tarantino about the film, she is open to it. “I would imagine he has no love lost for me or wants to speak to me,” said Lee, laughing. “But I’m always open for a conversation.”
Do you think that she has a point in her complaint about her father’s depiction? Let us know in the comment section below!
ALSO SEE: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD ACTOR THINKS BRUCE LEE WOULD HAVE WON THE FIGHT IF IT CONTINUED
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Source: Variety