Fan Bingbing, once a dazzling star among China's film elite, is making a cautious return to the silver screen after a protracted absence spanning over five years, her career sidelined by allegations of involvement in a colossal tax evasion scandal. Her comeback vehicle, 'Green Night,' a neo-noir thriller hailing from Hong Kong and set amidst the intrigue of South Korea, premieres on American streaming platforms on October 18th. This comeback marks a milestone for Fan, who vanished from public view in 2018, enduring nearly a year of silence while facing a staggering tax bill exceeding 880 million yuan (approximately £99 million) from Chinese authorities.
Experts opine that Fan's foray into an edgy, internationally produced film, which has garnered limited buzz in China, alludes to a permanent erosion of her former grandeur. "I doubt she'll fully recapture her former glory," remarks Sabrina Qiong Yu, a professor of film and Chinese studies at Newcastle University. "Chinese film stars tread on thin ice... their fame, a commodity the state seldom favors."
Fan's fall from grace sent ripples through the Chinese film industry, unraveling in May 2018 when a prominent TV personality exposed two contracts online, insinuating that Fan had employed a deceptive 'yin-yang' contract to underreport her earnings to the taxman by millions of dollars, a practice reportedly rampant in the film circuit. Fan vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and the accuser retracted their statements, yet the tax authorities swung into action, ultimately ordering her to pay 883 million yuan in back taxes and penalties. In a contrite social media post, Fan acknowledged, "Without the benevolent policies of the party and state, and the unwavering love and support of the people, I would not be Fan Bingbing."
Since then, Fan's career has languished, though she's remained visible on social media and nurtured her e-commerce beauty brand, Fan Beauty. Her recent Chinese social media updates brim with fashion ventures and patriotic sentiments, with no hint of 'Green Night.' On the eve of Japan's surrender anniversary in WWII, Fan penned, "Remember history, cherish peace, love China, and boldly forge ahead!"
Chinese celebrities have traditionally been held to stringent moral standards, expected to maintain impeccable personal lives. However, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tightens its grip on all facets of society, stars must now openly demonstrate loyalty to the CCP. President Xi Jinping has intensified the party's oversight of the super-rich, amid concerns over elites amassing unchecked influence.
Fan's sudden downfall, a jolt to China's booming film scene, has since been echoed in the fates of other high-profile wealthy individuals. In November 2020, Jack Ma, a celebrated billionaire, vanished for three months after criticizing China's financial regulators. Last year, billionaire dealmaker Bao Fan similarly disappeared. To thrive in China's current political landscape, celebrities must embody "loving the country, loving the party," Yu emphasizes, noting instances where fans themselves have policed celebrities' nationalist credentials, without official intervention. In March, Nobel laureate Mo Yan faced online backlash for being deemed insufficiently patriotic.
In 'Green Night,' Fan portrays Jin Xia, a Chinese immigrant working at South Korea's Incheon Airport. Her encounter with a mysterious green-haired girl leads her into a treacherous web of drug trafficking, lesbian romance, and escape from an abusive husband. Such daring themes would surely have been censored had the film been intended for release in China.
