Nomadland: Award-winning film censored on Chinese social media over past comments by director Chloé Zhao

Golden Globe-winning film Nomadland’s release in China is in question over past comments made by director Chloé Zhao.

Last week, Zhao made history as the first Asian woman and second woman ever to win a Golden Globe for Best Director for the drama, which stars Frances McDormand as a woman who rejects conventional society following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada.

While Zhao’s win was initially applauded in China, where she was born, censors have begun removing social media posts about the film in apparent objection to comments she made in 2013.

Speaking to Filmmaker magazine, Zhao described China as “a place where there are lies everywhere” when she lived there as a teenager. The interview no longer includes the quote, but archived versions of the webpage showed the original version.

On social media app Weibo, the hashtags “Nomadland has a release date” and “No Land to Rely On” (the film’s Chinese title) now return the message: “According to the relevant laws, regulations and policies, the page is not found.”

Read more: How to watch Nomadland in the UK

A post on Weibo from the government-backed National Arthouse Alliance of Cinemas that had featured a poster for the film no longer displays the poster.

It is unclear if the film will still be released in China, having originally been slated for release on 23 April according to Chinese media. The China Film Administration did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Nomadland was one of the big winners at last week’s Golden Globes, taking home the award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director for Zhao.

It won again during Sunday night’s (7 March) Critics Choice Awards in the same two categories, as well as in Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography, making it a frontrunner for this year’s Oscar nominations.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.