CBC to air controversial Falun Gong documentary
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 | 5:31 PM ET
CBC News
A controversial documentary, Beyond The Red Wall: The Persecution of Falun Gong, will be broadcast on the CBC documentary program The Lens Nov. 20 after it was pulled earlier this month following a complaint from the Chinese embassy.
The film follows the story of Canadian Kunlun Zhang, an artist and professor at McGill University, who was arrested and jailed for nearly three years in a Chinese labour camp. It examines the Falun Gong movement and attempts by the Chinese government to quash it.
Director Peter Rowe said he was only informed hours before his film was pulled from the lineup on Nov. 6.
The switch came after the Chinese Embassy contacted the CBC, said CBC spokesman Jeff Keay. He said CBC officials learned that a Falun Gong publication had been running stories that touted the broadcaster as a supporter of the spritual movement.
The CBC requested certain edits to the film and Rowe complied.
"We determined that there were opportunities to make [the documentary] more journalistically solid and therefore more credible," Keay said at the time.
The lobby group Canadians Against Propaganda criticized the move, saying the Communist Party of China should not be able to impose any demands on the CBC.
Beyond The Red Wall: The Persecution of Falun Gong airs on The Lens, Nov. 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT and on CBC Newsworld, Nov. 24, at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- 32 Syrian children die in artillery attack, says UN
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico, organization says
- Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people. more »
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
- In Montreal this weekend, an unusual performance series will have seniors indulging in their favourite hobbies, but perched on chairs suspended five metres above the ground. more »
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
