Latest news with #Ran
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Ran' turns 40: How a clerical error and bad blood cost Akira Kurosawa an Oscar
Forty years ago, a clerical error and bad blood cost Akira Kurosawa an Oscar. The legendary Japanese filmmaker's Ran proved the final samurai masterpiece of his distinguished career. His third Shakespeare adaptation, the film is epic in every sense of the word — massive in scale, shot in glorious color, with vicious betrayal and intense action and emotion. At the time of its release in 1985, Kurosawa was certainly well-regarded by the Motion Picture Academy, receiving an Honorary Award for Outstanding Foreign-Language Film for Rashomon, followed by Best Foreign-Language Film in 1976 for Dersu Uzala. The 58th Academy Awards found Ran competing for four awards, including Kurosawa's only Best Director nod — despite not being submitted for Best Foreign-Language Film, a snub that was the product of a messy history. More from GoldDerby 2025 Tony Awards: Complete list of winners (updating live) 'What's next?': Allison Janney on playing a 'badass' on 'The Diplomat,' 'West Wing' 25 years later 'Sinners' bonus feature, 'Good Night' live, Sabrina's song of the summer, 'Fantastic Four' theme, and what to stream this weekend Kurosawa was remarkably influential in the West. Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars was essentially a remake of Yojimbo, and films as diverse as George Lucas' Star Wars (Hidden Fortress), Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (Rashomon), and John Sturges' The Magnificent Seven and A Bug's Life (Seven Samurai) borrowed liberally from his works. If Kurosawa was accessible to Western audiences, it was perhaps in part because he was inspired by Western literature and film. William Shakespeare provided continued inspiration for Kurosawa, adapting Macbeth (Throne of Blood), Hamlet (The Bad Sleep Well), and King Lear (Ran), who as did great early Western filmmakers, including John Ford. International fame aside, Kurosawa's relationship with the Japanese film industry was significantly strained in the late-'60s through early '70s. He was hired to direct the Japanese section of the 1970's Toei-Fox. coproduction Tora! Tora! Tora!, but had difficulty dealing with Fox's communication, editors, and oversight, and spent considerable time in the thick of a mental crisis. He was prescribed two months of rest, so producer Darryl F. Zanuck's son, Richard, flew to Japan to personally fire Kurosawa. Japanese funding for his projects became scarce, and he relied on external financing support from friends for financing Dodes'ka-den. Between health problems and career turmoil, at a particularly low point, Kurosawa attempted to take his own life late in 1971, though he survived and recovered. The career that followed cemented his trajectory of international acclaim with minimal support from the Japanese film industry. In 1972, the Soviet studio Mosfilm approached the director for what became 1975's Academy Award-winning Dersu Uzala, but despite bringing numerous awards home to Japan, he again had difficulties funding his next epic, Kagemusha. Kurosawa met George Lucas and Frances Ford Coppola in 1978 while preparing for the project, and the pair were wowed by Kurosawa's vision. Coming off the success of Star Wars, Lucas convinced 20th Century Fox head Alan Ladd Jr. to provide a reported $6 million in 1979 to complete the film's funding. The film was a success, and Kurosawa ultimately referred to Kagemusha as a 'dress rehearsal' for his biggest project yet: Ran. Used to funding sources outside Japan, for Ran, Kurosawa secured the involvement of French producer Serge Silberman (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), alongside Japan's Nippon Herald Ace, to make the film, which opened in U.S. theaters on June 1, 1985. The Academy's rules for Best Foreign Film allowed one submission film per country to be considered for nomination, with each country having a unique nomination process. Speaking with The New York Times, Silberman admitted he had attempted to submit Ran as an 'independent' collaboration between France and Japan, an unintentional violation of Academy rules. Silberman next considered entering Ran as a French entry, but French rules stipulated submissions to be in the French language. That would require extensive dubbing, because the film starred Japanese actors and was shot and filmed in Japan. Silberman thought a French dub simply wouldn't have worked, so French submission was off the table. The final option would be submission to Japan's Motion Picture Producers Association (now MPPAJ), and this is where it gets even messier. According to the Times, a representative of the Japanese producers association said Ran wasn't submitted for consideration, and that the nominating committee was told the film would be submitted through France. Silberman claimed that the group refused to give more time to the decision after plans for an independent entry were nixed by the Academy. Then again, it's entirely plausible that major players in Japan's film industry weren't displeased with an opportunity to disrupt the film's Oscar chances. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Kurosawa refused to attend Ran's opening-night presentation at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Kurosawa had a rocky history of disagreements with Japan's film industry and had long relied on external funding for production, a recipe for strategic blunder. That snubbed festival was headed by Shigeru Okada, also the head of Toei and a member of Japan's Oscar-selection committee. It may not be a coincidence that Japan submitted Hana Ichi Monme (conveniently a Toei production) in Ran's stead. With its path to the foreign-language film category stymied, Silberman submitted Ran to the Academy for consideration in other feature-length categories, and the rest is Academy Award history. It all makes for a long, twisty story about how Kurosawa's final samurai masterpiece landed him a Best Director nomination in a year where, for a number of odd reasons, it wasn't even up for Best Foreign Film. He received one final honor from the Academy at the 62nd Academy Awards, an Honorary Award celebrating his life in film, appropriately presented by Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Best of GoldDerby Stephen King movies: 14 greatest films ranked worst to best 'The Life of Chuck' cast reveal their favorite Stephen King works, including Mark Hamill's love of the 'terrifying' 'Pet Sematary' From 'Hot Rod' to 'Eastbound' to 'Gemstones,' Danny McBride breaks down his most righteous roles: 'It's been an absolute blast' Click here to read the full article.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just saw one of my favorite movies in theaters for its 40th anniversary — but you can stream it for free right now
When looking at the top movies to stream for free on Tubi last month, I noticed that the free streaming service had added "Ran" to its library, and it immediately caught my attention. For those who aren't familiar with this movie, it's the final epic from Akira Kurosawa, who, among other things, is notable for being a significant inspiration behind George Lucas' "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope." But the late, great Japanese filmmaker is famous in his own right, having written and directed acclaimed films such as "Seven Samurai," "The Hidden Fortress" (that's the one that inspired "Star Wars") and "Yojimbo." Go through the Wikipedia article for any of those movies (and "Ran") and you'll see words like "significant influence" and "greatest and most influential films in cinema history." "Ran" remains my favorite Kurosawa film, though, even 40 years after its original theatrical release. I first watched it when I was a kid — it was probably the first foreign-language movie I ever watched — and when I saw it was on Tubi for free, I got ready to hit play again. But then I got an email telling me that "Ran" was being restored in 4K for its 40th anniversary. Even better, it was coming to my local independent theater. So, of course, I bought a ticket. "Ran" is a visual masterpiece, expertly creating vivid battle scenes of epic proportions, loaded with color. I wasn't going to miss a chance to see it in theaters — and having now seen the 4K restoration for myself, you shouldn't either. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "Ran" is loosely an adaptation of William Shakespeare's "King Lear." In that play, the elderly King Lear divides his country between his three daughters, a decision that leads to him disowning one daughter before being outcast by his remaining daughters and wandering the country as a madman as his daughters fight over his lands. Kurosawa's adaptation holds pretty true to that general plotline. But he chooses to set it in a fictional version of Japan, based on 16th-century Sengoku period Japan. If that sounds familiar to you, that's also when "Shogun" is set, and you can feel shades of FX's hit period drama when watching "Ran." I'd be shocked if the show didn't draw some inspiration from this movie, even though it's directly based on an existing miniseries that predates "Ran" by five years. The historical drama epic stars Tatsuya Nakadai as the aged warlord Hidetora Ichimonji, who, like Lear, divides his lands between his three sons: Taro (Akira Terao), Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu) and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu). Like in the Shakespeare play, the third child refuses to accept this gift with the appropriate level of flattery, and Hidetora disowns him. Based on what I've already told you about "King Lear," you can guess how it goes from there. Now, I don't want to spoil much beyond that, because I want you to go see the original version on Tubi or the 4K restoration in theaters once you're done reading this article. But I will mention that, while the story is compelling enough to hold you're attention, it's the visuals of this movie that make it one of the greatest films ever made. Specifically, there are a few battle sequences sprinkled throughout the movie that are spectacular in every sense of the word. The first such battle sequence takes place at one of Hidetora's many castles, and has two of the brothers' armies assembled outside trying to breach it. At the beginning of the film, when we meet Hidetora and his sons, the sons are each wearing a primary color for their outfit: yellow (Taro), red (Jiro) and blue (Saburo). When they fight, their armies also follow this color scheme, and so in this first battle, we get a sea of yellow and a sea of red meeting in front of this imposing castle. The castle, surrounding lands and even skies are all dreary hues, and it makes the soldiers and their armor pop visually in a truly stunning way. Especially in the 4K restoration. The good news is that this visual experience still comes through in the original version of the film on Tubi. The only thing that doesn't quite hit in the same way is the sound of the film, which is immense at times in the theater. You'd want a decent sound setup to get a similar experience at home. I use a Sonos Arc Ultra, which is our top-rated pick for the best soundbars you can buy right now, and it's plenty satisfying. But the Sonos Beam (Gen 1) I use in my office is also plenty good. So, whether you see it in all its glory on the big screen or opt to watch it at home on Tubi, make sure to check out "Ran" now for its 40th anniversary. There's never been a better time to experience one of the greatest movies ever made. Stream the original version of 'Ran' free on Tubi now or check out the 4K restoration at your local theater Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Thug Life X reviews: Mani Ratnam's gangster film divides the internet
Thug Life, the much-anticipated gangster action drama directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR (STR), and Trisha Krishnan, hit theatres on Thursday, June 5. As expected, the film sparked widespread discussion on social media, particularly on X, where early reactions have been mixed, with viewers praising certain aspects while voicing strong criticism of others, especially the second half. Thug Life Twitter reviews The movie has received mixed reactions from fans on X. Some users compared the film's first half to cinematic classics. One user wrote, '#ThugLife Well made and decent first half which reminded me of Kurosawa's Ran and Mani's own Nayakan. Nothing exceptional after the opening sequence, but nothing to complain about either.' Another viewer noted that the film had been unfairly judged by early reviews, stating, 'Definitely not as bad as people have been saying. A solid gangster drama in Mani Ratnam's signature style. Kamal and STR are excellent. I especially enjoyed the dialogue-driven moments more than the action sequences. Weak points? Some of Trisha's scenes and the interval block.' A third user wrote, 'A neat gangster drama in true Mani Ratnam fashion. #KamalHaasan is brilliant, but #SilambarasanTR steals the show! The de-aging for Kamal worked well, and his dynamic with the young STR was touching. Pacing was slow at times, but overall some strong sequences.' 'Haters, trolls, and toxicity—@ikamalhaasan has endured it all. Believe me, #ThugLife is fantastic. An absolute masterclass. Stop waiting to appreciate it after a decade—do it now!,' an X user wrote. Another one said, 'KH's performance was captivating and STR delivered big time. The young actor in the flashbacks was impressive too. ARR's music elevates the film, although some parts felt a bit out of sync. Unfortunately, the second half suffers from inconsistent writing.' About Thug Life Thug Life is a 2025 Tamil-language gangster action film directed by Mani Ratnam, co-written with lead actor Kamal Haasan. It marks their first collaboration since the 1987 classic Nayakan. The film is produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies. The ensemble cast includes Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj. The project was initially announced in November 2022 under the working title Kamal Haasan 234, representing Haasan's 234th lead role. The title Thug Life was revealed in 2023. The shooting for the movie took place in late 2024 across various Indian locations, including Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, New Delhi, and parts of North India. The film features music by A.R. Rahman, cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran, and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. Thug Life was released globally on June 5, 2025, in standard, IMAX, and EPIQ formats.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Thug Life Twitter reviews: Kamal Haasan's never-ending monologues test patience, Mani Ratnam rehashed Mirzapur, say fans
Thug Life Twitter reviews: Mani Ratnam's Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR and Trisha Krishnan-starrer Thug Life was released in theatres on Thursday. The film's reviews on X (formerly Twitter) paint a polarising picture, with many fans loving some portions of the film, but largely criticising how the second half goes downhill. (Also Read: Pankaj Tripathi reveals if he is part of Kamal Haasan-starrer Thug Life amid row. Here's what actor has to say) Hindustan Times reviewer Latha Srinivasan wrote on X after finishing the film's first half, '#ThugLife internal - Brilliant interval block and really good narrative and story build up so far. Awesome work #maniratnam #kamalhaasan #simbu. Can't wait for rest of film!' One X user commented that Thug Life had a first half that reminded them of Nayakan or even Ran, writing, '#ThugLife Well made and decent first half which reminded me of Kurosowa's #Ran and Mani's own #Nayakan at some places. Nothing exceptional after the opening sequence but nothing to complain as well.' Another stated that the film wasn't 'as bad' as people made it out to be, 'Definitely not as bad as the reviews I've been reading since morning. Pretty good gangster drama so far, in Mani Ratnam's settled style. Kamal and STR are at their best, the film had a solid start and for a change, I've enjoyed some conversational parts more than the action, being a gangster film. The negatives would be some Trisha portions and the interval block, but otherwise liking the film so far!' One thought that Simbu stole the show and Kamal's de-ageing was done well, 'A neat gangster drama so far in Mani Ratnam style. #KamalHaasan shines while #SilambarasanTR steals the show! Kamal's young look with de-aging and bond with young STR is. Some slow narration but good stretches too.' Another believed that Thug Life was a 'masterclass', writing, 'Haters,trollers,fakery, toxicity @ikamalhaasan has seen it all. Believe in you & me the common film lover who spend our own money #Thuglife is fantastic. A masterclass. Stop appreciating after 10 years do it now. Miss it not.' Another thought that AR Rahman's music was a major plus for the film, even if it 'felt off' on some portions, 'Just in awe of KH's acting throughout the movie and STR has delivered brilliantly too, the young kid's expressions and the entire cast has delivered!! ARR's music is a huge strength but in some portions it felt a bit off.. 2nd half suffers from poor writing!' These reviews were vastly different from some others who seemed majorly disappointed in Mani and Kamal both for making a film like Thug Life. One fan requested Kamal to stop writing his own stories, '#ThugLife -Monumental Disaster. As a hardcore Aandavar fan I am again disappointed after #Indian2. Routine and boaring story. Not even one scene is good. Aandavar please stop writing your own stories and stop acting in your own stories.' Another thought that the film was missing Mani's trademark spark and Kamal's 'never-ending monologues' tests patience, '#ThugLife had potential but ends up dragging. Kamal Haasan delivers a solid performance, but his never-ending monologues wear you down. Simbu handles his part well, but even that can't rescue the sluggish, flat second half. The trademark Mani Ratnam spark? Nowhere to be found.' One thought that despite Kamal and Simbu's acting, the film was a let down, '#ThugLife - Predictable first half turns into a half baked second half. Kamal at his best as a performer. STR did a decent role but nailed in climax action sequence. A.R.R bgm & songs pure saviour of the film. Mani saab direction la something creepy happened. overall - OK.' A frustrated fan even called Thug Life a rehash of Mirzapur and Paatal Lok, 'At the end of first half, felt the movie is a rehash & a simpler form of Mirzapur & Paatalok series.. Kamal & STR chemistry is the only thing that holds the film to some extent. #Thuglife.' One X user summed up the film, writing, '#ThugLife : The Film Begins with a Gripping Setup, but it quickly devolves into a Cliched Revenge Tale with Zero Surprises.#KamalHaasan and #SilambarasanTR was Good, but Trisha's character felt Underwritten and largely Unnecessary. Overall, a Disappointing Experience.' Thug Life also stars Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf and Baburaj.
Epoch Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Chinese Authorities Detain 2 Educators for ‘Speaking the Truth' About Their Faith, Source Says
Two Chinese citizens who run a private learning program focused on traditional culture have been detained by the authorities in a case of religious persecution spanning multiple provinces. On April 23, Wang Yunxiao, of central China's Wuhan, and Ran Xinglong, resident in Shanghai, were abruptly arrested by officers from a county police bureau in Huangshan city of Anhui Province, eastern China. Wang and Ran are the cofounders of Green Academy, an education company for children offering online courses and in-person summer and winter camps. For the winter camp this January, together with parents and teaching assistants, the two instructors took groups of students to the Wudang mountains and Huangshan, both places of significance for China's ancient spiritual and cultural heritage. According to one of the men's good friends and former colleague, Hu Yongning, who recently spoke with the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times about their case, as well as overseas Chinese legal scholars, the only reason for Wang and Ran's detention seems to be their adherence to the teachings of Falun Gong, a faith group that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since 1999. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that was freely practiced by tens of millions of people in China during the 1990s, when both the public and the regime welcomed its teachings and meditative exercises for bringing widespread improvements in Detained for 'Speaking the Truth' Millions of Falun Gong practitioners continue to live in China, Related Stories 5/13/2025 5/5/2025 On May 23, Hu and other Falun Gong practitioners in New York demonstrated before the Chinese Consulate in Manhattan to raise awareness about Wang and Ran's arrests, and to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. 'Both of their homes were ransacked. Their computers, phones, and those belonging to their family members were confiscated. Even the phone of one of their students' parents was taken,' said Hu, who emigrated to the United States in April 2024. Plainclothes policemen watch as a female Falun Gong practitioner resists arrest while being forced by police toward a police van, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on May 11, 2000. Stephen Shaver/AFP via Getty Images Hu suspected that Wang and Ran were reported to the authorities for 'speaking the truth' about Falun Gong during their classes, but noted that the arrests came in April, several months after Green Academy's winter camp ended in January. According to Hu and reports by The two men were slapped with vague charges of subverting state power, a common charge police and courts use against Falun Gong practitioners and other religious prisoners in China. Following Wang and Ran's detention, the police broadened their investigation, Hu said, bringing in multiple parents for questioning. Several elementary school children who attended the winter camp were also taken to the police station to be interrogated. 'One parent who helped Ran Xinglong during the winter camp as a teaching assistant was interrogated from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, without anything to eat, for an entire week,' Hu said. He added that another parent said she was asked about the content of Ran's teachings. 'They've interviewed several parents, but never explained what the two actually did to justify arresting them. The [female] parent was baffled. Why were the police harassing her like this?' Hu said. Li Yuqing, a Chinese legal scholar residing in the United States, told NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times, that there was no lawful grounds for the arrests of Wang and Ran. 'There really is no reason, because they don't need one. [The regime] arrests Falun Gong practitioners without any justification,' Lu said. Promoting Traditional Culture While Green Academy itself was established in 2023, Wang, Ran, and Hu began their educational work over a decade earlier. 'As Falun Gong practitioners, we emphasize reviving traditional culture. Society today is very materialistic, but we teach students that life isn't just about pleasure-seeking or getting into a good university,' Hu told The Epoch Times. 'What matters most is returning to one's original, true self. 'Our educational goal is to help children understand from an early age that life has spiritual meaning, that the divine is real, contrary to what is claimed by [the CCP's] atheism.' The trio was guided and inspired by Wang's late father, Wang Xueming, a researcher of Chinese language and literature. A secondary school teacher from Chengdu, southwestern China's Sichuan Province, the elder Wang was not yet 30 when the persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999. Like tens of thousands of other Falun Gong practitioners, Wang Xueming travelled to Beijing to protest in Tiananmen Square, calling upon the Chinese regime to end its crackdown. As a result of his demonstration, he was beaten and tortured by Sichuan police stationed in the Chinese capital. He also lost his teaching job upon returning to Chengdu. Undeterred, he organized private classes to promote traditional culture and values. The holder of a master's degree in education from Sichuan Normal University, he faced constant surveillance and interference by the police due to his faith, but was aided by his son and other like-minded individuals, including Ran and Hu. 'Every time he tried to establish an education company, the authorities would shut it down as soon as it started to grow,' Hu recalled. 'They'd seize its assets and disband the company. If it showed any signs of success, they'd destroy it.' Wang Xueming's Sacrifice Under pennames including 'Yun Xiao' and 'Tang Ming,' Wang Xueming was also a noted writer, being a member of the Sichuan Writers Association and earning an award for his blog posts in 2007. While imprisoned between 2002 and 2005, he wrote a nearly 300,000-word collection of teaching materials—only to have it confiscated by the prison staff before his release. In connection with another one-year sentence served for what the authorities said was 'running an illegal business' in 2011 and 2012, the police burned or seized 6,000 books owned or written by Wang Xueming, representing a loss of more than 1 million yuan (about $140,000), according to Minghui. Despite the abuses he suffered behind bars, he remained in excellent physical condition and travelled throughout China to give lectures. Hu Yongning supported Falun Gong and its core teachings of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance for many years. However, the persecution in China kept him from taking up the practice. That began to change in late 2019, when Hu started to develop a painful spinal disorder. Despite undergoing a variety of treatments, his condition did not see significant improvement. 'A doctor told me I might be afflicted for the rest of my life,' he told The Epoch Times. People gather at an outdoor area to take a swab test during mass testing for COVID-19 in Beijing on June 23, 2020. Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images In 2020, with the onset of the CCP's draconian 'zero-COVID' pandemic lockdowns, Hu was isolated at home. Dedicating himself to the study of Falun Gong's teachings and practicing its five meditation exercises, he said he experienced a full recovery within a month. Later that year, however, Wang Xueming was arrested for the final time upon arrival at the airport in Baotou, China's Inner Mongolia region, according to Minghui. Sentenced to four years in prison, in September 2022, he was transferred to a facility in the city of Hohhot. Days later, prison staff claimed he 'died suddenly.' Family members were not permitted to see his body before cremation. He was 52. Exposing a 'Severe and Hidden' Persecution According to Minghui and other human rights organizations, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally detained or sentenced over the nearly 26 years since the CCP began its campaign to destroy the peaceful faith group. In addition to suffering beatings, torture, sexual abuse, forced labor, and expropriation, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are murdered for their organs in the CCP's state- and military-run hospitals on an annual basis, according to a growing number of investigations, such as 'Bloody Harvest/The Slaughter,' a 2016 In 2019, an independent London-based court A banner calling for the end of forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China is displayed as practitioners demonstrate the spiritual practice's meditation, next to the United Nations in New York City on Sept. 20, 2023. Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times Hu expressed concern about the fate of his friends, Wang Yunxiao and Ran Xinglong, given the possibility that they could be killed for their organs. 'They are completely helpless in China. No one can help them,' Hu said. 'They have no income now.' Ran's wife has travelled to She county in Huangshan to seek her husband's release, Hu said, while Ran himself has gone on a hunger strike to protest his unjust detention. They have two young children, aged 4 years and 8 months. Following Wang Xueming's sudden death, Hu felt a growing need to escape the country and help inform the world—particularly the U.S. government—about what he said are the 'severe and hidden' abuses being perpetrated under CCP rule, especially the forced organ harvesting. 'When the Communist Party goes after people, they cover it up completely,' Hu said. 'The news is sealed off.' He pointed out that 'when a Falun Gong practitioner is arrested or persecuted, not even their neighbors know' because 'the persecution is deeply hidden.' Li Yuanming contributed to this report .
