Crazy Rich Asians, China and Class

Crazy Rich Asians is the first Hollywood film in 25 years to feature a mostly Asian cast and it's been celebrated for showcasing Asian culture, specifically Chinese culture. But the film may not even be seen in China, according to a New York Times article.


The Chinese government only allows a certain number of foreign films onto the continent for viewing and those films have to meet certain taste and standard guidelines. China, which has a socialist government, may object to the capitalist themes of opulence and affluence in the film. If the film is accepted is has the potential to be censored. However, some experts believe that the film may not even resonate with the continental Chinese audience because they tend to not like films that depict what they perceive as "Westernized Chinese culture." This film which is rightfully heralded as an important depiction of Asian representation in Hollywood would perhaps be interpreted to be otherwise by a mainland Chinese audience. Issues of class, whitewashing and censorship are interesting to note in this NYT analysis. A NYT review noted the film was "obscene with wealth."