In conclusion it can be said that personal and political factors have shaped the films of Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou and caused him to come under the close surveillance of the Chinese censors. Zhang’s family's opposition to the ruling Communist Party prevented him from being able to join the Youth League which was the stepping stone to the Communist Party. During the Cultural Revolution he had to work as a labourer in a spinning …showed first 75 words of 1463 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1463 total…gaze" I show that the accusations, in fact, 'reflect back' on the Chinese authorities and other moralistic critics such as Dai Qing. She is criticising Zhang's inaccurate use of the red lantern. Showing that this 'inaccuracies argument' has also been brought forward by critics of Neil Jordan's Michael Collins it is argued that film-makers such as Zhang use their rights as visual artists to alter facts in order to make a comment on today's politics.