China bans award-winning film 'Her Heart Beats in Its Cage' over domestic violence portrayal

The feminist film 'Her Heart Beats in Its Cage' has been banned in China just days before its scheduled theatrical release on May 30. Directed by and starring Zhao Xiaohong—who played herself—the film is based on the real case of a woman who killed her husband. While the film frames the killing as a consequence of long-term domestic violence, the actual court verdict in the case did not mention any spousal abuse. The film had previously won an award at an international film festival in 2025, drawing attention both domestically and globally.

On May 21, the Shanghai Film Bureau announced the ban, citing violations of Chinese law during the production approval process. The authority stated it launched an investigation after receiving a large number of tip-offs from the public. The production team had initially applied for approval in July 2021. The ban highlights China's strict censorship of content that challenges official legal narratives or portrays sensitive social issues like domestic violence in a way that contradicts court rulings. The film's removal underscores ongoing tensions between artistic expression and state-sanctioned storytelling in China.