"A Touch of Sin", the most internationally acclaimed Chinese film in recent years, has not been shown in mainland China and Hong Kong, four months after its scheduled run in mainland theaters in November.

The film has been basically approved but just waiting for the final nod of Chinese censors, said Jia Zhangke, the indie film director.

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The film won Jia the best screenplay award at last year's Cannes Film Festival and was among the 2013 top 10 films listed by the BBC, New York Times, and Sight and Sound.

Jia is scheduled to visit Taiwan in March, months after the director's absence from last year's Golden Horse Award ceremony in Taipei.

"A Touch of Sin" garnered six nominations for the Golden Horse awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Director and won the Best Original Film Score and Best Film Editing awards.

"A Touch of Sin" poignantly mirrors the realities of modern day Chinese society as portrayed by its four main characters: a villager locked in struggle with corrupt officials and businessmen; a migrant who returns home and ends up hunting the local wealthy; a sauna receptionist who is assaulted by a client; and an unhappy factory worker.

"A Touch of Sin" will be shown in Taiwan but it remains uncertain if, or when, it will be shown in mainland China and Hong Kong.

"In theory, it will definitely show. In reality? I talk to [film regulators] basically once every two weeks.  The official side is a little anxious. They think maybe the audience won't be able to take it. Maybe there will be negative reactions," Jia told China Real Time in a recent interview.