TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A controversy has erupted over the marketing of Taiwanese film "Sunshine Women's Choir" (陽光女子合唱團) in China, where promotional materials labeled it the "Chinese Taiwan region" box office champion, sparking criticism from legislators. The film, which has grossed over NT$740 million (approximately US$23.1 million) and ranks among Taiwan's top ten highest-grossing movies, is set to debut in China on Saturday (April 4).
DPP Legislator Ngalim Tiunn (張雅琳) criticized the terminology Sunday (March 29), questioning why the film accepted Taiwanese subsidies while allegedly aligning with China's cultural unification efforts. Tiunn noted that "Sunshine Women's Choir" received over NT$18 million (approximately US$563,000) in subsidies from Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, Taipei City, and Taoyuan City, funded by Taiwanese taxpayers. She urged the Ministry of Culture to review its subsidy policies and establish clearer guidelines for political language in international promotions.
The Ministry of Culture requested an explanation from the film's production team and plans to convene industry representatives to discuss a response strategy, officials said. The film's distributor declined to comment on the controversy. Meanwhile, "Sunshine Women's Choir" has performed well in markets including the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, according to box office data.
The controversy deepened after some fans noticed differences between the Chinese and Taiwanese versions of the film. In the Chinese version, the relationship between two foster mothers was reportedly altered from "same-sex partners" to "sisters" through dubbing. A Chinese internet user pointed out this change, attributing it to censorship avoidance, while many fans accepted it as necessary for the film's release in China.