One of China’s most famous film directors is facing a government investigation and an online controversy following reports he has violated the mainland’s strict family planning policies by having seven children with different wives.
The website of People’s Daily, mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist party, said local government officials in eastern China were investigating reports that Zhang Yimou “has at least seven children”, some of them out of wedlock, in violation of a policy which is applied strictly to ordinary Chinese but frequently flouted by celebrities.
Mr Zhang, who scripted the extravagant 2008 Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies and is famous abroad for the sumptuous film Raise the Red Lantern, could face a fine of up to Rmb160m ($26.1m), the paper said.