The producer of the popular film Mr Six (Lao Pao'er) on Saturday reacted to the accusation issued by Beijing Tobacco Control Association that the film contains too much smoking scenes. The producer said that the film is only aiming to be realistic and shows how locals really lived during the period the movie is set in.

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The tobacco association heavily criticized the film in a letter it sent to Global Times on Thursday. The association claims that the film did not heed to the state regulations that forbid smoking in public spaces, workplaces and public transport vehicles.

"The 138-minute film is full of scenes depicting the lighting and passing of cigarettes and smoking ... It seems that everyone in the film can smoke, which goes against reality and is unnecessary. They smoke unscrupulously and illegally in public places," the association's letter reads.

The association called on the producer to issue a public apology to the locals of Beijing and include a note that smoking is dangerous for the health. It also wants the inclusion of a health reminder that smoking is banned in public places before the film is played. Likewise, the producer is urged to hold a public service activity to help fight tobacco use and smoking.

A senior associate of the production studio H. Brothers, however,  issued a statement online on Saturday reacting to the tobacco group's claim. He said that their work is purely artistic and a recreation of what really going on in Beijing.  It was an era when tobacco smoking had not yet banned in public and smoking was a way of life of the locals, he claims. 

China does not yet have a film classification scheme for films. The production staff understands where the reaction of the tobacco association is coming from and agreed that there should be restrictions on tobacco-related scenes in the film industry.

"The association's protest is understandable, and great importance should be attached to it," said Chen Qiuping, scriptwriter for the Beijing Film Association. "However, excessive interference by the association would have an adverse effect on the prosperity of cultural creation."  

Tagsmr. six, lao pao'er, beijing tobacco control association, smoking, Beijing Smoking