What led to the cancellation of the Winnie the Pooh:Blood and Honey film?
Hong Kong has been rocked by the news that the screening of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey”, a British slasher film, has been cancelled.
This came after cinemas in the city declined to show it, leaving its distributor, VII Pillars Entertainment, “very disappointed”. The movie had been scheduled to open in 32 cinemas in the city on March 23.
Chinese censors have previously targeted the film’s main character, Winnie the Pooh, over memes that compare the bumbling bear to President Xi Jinping. The comparisons began in 2013, and some people have used the image of Pooh to signal dissent. This may have played a role in the film’s cancellation, although the reasons are unclear.
Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield called the cancellation “something mysterious” and said, “The cinemas agreed to show it, then all independently come to the same decision overnight. It won’t be a coincidence.” The cancellation may be related to the new censorship law in Hong Kong that bars films that “endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite activities that might endanger national security”.
The cancellation of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” is a blow to Hong Kong’s cultural scene, which is trying to promote itself as a vibrant cultural hub. It also raises questions about the limits of free speech and artistic expression in Hong Kong.
