Chinese film industry longs to be back in business

Coronavirus upsurge means cinemas are no closer to screening movies

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A man walks by a movie poster in Shanghai on Feb. 17. The coronavirus-induced closure of theaters across China has made for a long and frustrating wait for both cinephiles and the movie industry.  © Jiji

LINGHUA QI, Contributing writer

CHICAGO -- After anxiously waiting nearly five months, theaters in China did not get the exciting news they had been hoping for in mid-June but a devastating announcement instead: An instruction from Beijing's city officials suggested that cinemas, KTV karaoke clubs and other enclosed places of recreation should remain shut until further notice.

There had been a flash of good news on May 8, when the State Council of China issued an instruction that allowed theaters to reopen with precautions such as reservations and a limited audience, but many theaters were still waiting for local governments to give the green light to open.

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