1.00.00

Tight shots -

lipstick, makeup

brushes, dabbling in

colours, Ma's face

reflected in mirror

Ma painting himself

as a woman

V/O Ma Liu Ming is an unlikely foot

soldier, in a new revolution that's

sweeping China.

00.37

V/O

Paintings and

photos on walls

wide shot of artists

showing me photo

album, leafing

through, vs - photos

I/V

Thirty years after free love and

sexual liberty hit the west, China is

undergoing its own sexual

revolution.

"This is my artistic image, a female

face on a man's body. Whenever I

put on a performance I wear makeup ..

This image is central to my work."

1.08

Ma's home video,

him cooking a fish in

his courtyard V/O

Frying pan on fire,

leaping flames and

black smoke V/O

Throughout much of China's

history, sex has been taboo. But

people like Ma are turning that on

his head.

His art, which features live

performances like this one filmed

at home by a friend, are pushing

the boundaries of what's

acceptable, in public and in private.

But art to Ma Liu Ming is

pornography to the Chinese

authorities. After one performance,

he was arrested and jailed for two

months.

"I did this performance in April '94,

using my male female image. I cooked a fish a live fish, in a wok.

After it was cooked I put it on a plate

and placed it on a glass table Then a

connected a hose, one end to my

penis, the other to my mouth ..."

"But I didn't eat the fish. So this work

symbolised futility."

02.16

Window looking in

VIo

Birds and Bees,

butterfly on rose,

flowers couples in

the park

The views of Ma are extreme, it's

true ...

(pause 1/2s)

But all over China there's a new

awakening going on. Sex is now

an issue, something that can be

talked about, and even enjoyed.

The views of thousands of years

are being challenged.

02.36

Fountain gushes

skyward v/o

Cyclists in dusk light

Prof Pan crossing

the road

vIo Us walking into

sex shop behind two

young guys

Male devices ...

dildos

Sex potions

Professor Pan Sui Ming is China's

leading sexologist. He believes it

was the government which

unwittingly brought on the

revolution, with the introduction of

its one-child policy. Before, he

says, childbirth was considered the

only reason for having sex ...

"The one child policy changed the

relationship between sex and

reproduction. At first, people thought

once we've had a child, there's no

point in having sex any more. Then

they realised they could do it for

pleasure too."

The idea of sex for pleasure has

caught on ... A string of sex shops,

unheard of until two years ago,

now caters to the whims of the

masses.

While most came just for a look,

there's a growing trade in

everything from penis enlargers to

what they call "happiness

machines" .

The biggest seller though remains

the old Chinese favourite, potions

to boost male stamina during sex ...

Because traditionally, sexual

longevity was the key to eternal life.

03.45

I/V Professor Pan

" Under the ancient teachings of

Taoism, we believed that a woman's

sexual power was greater than a

man's. Men had to try not to ejaculate,

because losing semen meant losing

strength. If they could avoid this, they

could enjoy eternal life, maybe even

become a god."

04.00

V/O Sexy lingerie

Women caressing

fluffy knickers

These days there's less mystery

and more fun. And even the

government's getting in on the act.

It runs the sex shop and produces

much of its wares ...

This is quite a turnaround, because

sex in the Communist book has

been something to be discouraged

or ignored.

" After 1949, sex became politicised.

It was a part of politics, part of the

class struggle. Especially during the

Cultural Revolution. In every aspect

of life sex had to be controlled, even

prevented. There was a story that

went around at the time ... A couple

got married but the husband refused

to have sex. His wife felt helpless, so

she went home and told her mother.

When his father-in-law asked him

about it, the young man replied that

sex was for the bourgeoisie."

05.06

Wedding parlour,

couples posing for

photos in flouncy

frocks

Women in red

having makeup

done - lipstick,

eyes ...

These days young people are more

interested in romance than politics.

China's opening to the west has

helped stir a new craze, romantic

love.

And thanks to economic reform,

people have the money to make

their dreams come true, if only for a

day.

05.38

V/O People waiting,

swapping places etc

At Beijing's Marriage World, a

never-ending stream of newly-weds

have their dreams immortalised, in

outfits hired out for photo sessions

by the hour. The whole concept of

marriage has changed ... These two

are doing it for love, unlike the

older generation who did it for duty, and hoped love would come afterwards.

06.03

V/O Sex video...

Vision of frolicking stallions and couple wrestling under sheets

To help them find sexual harmony, the marriage bureau arranges a two-hour sex video for the newly-weds to view.  The message is that sex should be fun... But for the new initiates it's serious business indeed.

"In people's lives the sex urge is a strong force....It is hotter than a flame, it's like a speedy arrow fired straight into the heart."

06.30

Illustrations of sexual positions

For most it's at best a revelation, at worst a rude shock...There's virtually no sex education at school, and not enough privacy to encourage experimentation.

"We've had couples who've come to us with their problems.  After two or three years together, they still couldn't have children.  After investigating we discovered they didn't know how to have sex.  They watched our video and then said, ‘Oh, so that's how you do it."

07.01

V/O Dr Ma, two shot with screen

Stick figures.

Dr Ma Xianian is a vocal crusader for sex education.  He made the video, which the government immediately banned.  It's now allowed, after they censored out all references to masturbation, and had the human couples replaced by stick figures.

07.25

V/O People searching files

For most people, the age-old quest for a mate remains the most pressing concern.  China's changing times haven't made it any easier...

At the Golden Fate match-making agency right next to Marriage World, scores of hopefuls come in search of a perfect match.

60-ish lady checks out files.

Man watching video, spools through no.69

Miss Gao arrives

Miss Gao

There's young and old...A mother scours the files for a future son-in-law...

A would-be groom scans the video library, through dozens of potential brides...

And a girl that most guys would kill for continues her search for Mr Right

"I'd like someone who's ambitious in his career.  He also needs a good personality...a guy who enjoys life."

08.06

V/O Miss Gao filling in form

Shot of Mr Right's file and photo

For a woman like Miss Gao, 26 and well-schooled. It's getting harder to find a man.  Women these days like to marry up, while men prefer a bride who's younger and less educated.  That can leave even a stunner like Miss Gao on the shelf.

But they say there's someone for everyone, and there he is, right there in the files.

08.31

His file and photo

Miss Gao waiting

He certainly seems like Mr Right...an engineer, earns a fortune, and best of all he's blood type B.  This is very important for Chinese...Miss Gao is A, which suggests a romantic...B indicates a quiet thoughtful man.

An appointment has been made. Miss Gao waits...and waits...Mr Right doesn't show up, and the perfect match is blown.

08.55

Angry I/V with Miss Gao

"It's ruined my day, this is no good at all.  A girl shouldn't have to wait for a man...It's supposed to be the girl who arrives late.

09.03

Miss Gao in slow motion, swaying off down path

In future though, the Miss Gaos of China may have their revent.  The deliberate aborting of female fetuses in China due to the preference for boy babies, has led to 114 boys being born for every girl.  By  the end of the decade there'll by 70 million surplus young men who'll never find a bride.

09.28

Lonely Hearts club Flashing lights in darkness

Miss Gao,

Wallflower

People dancing in dark

Women chatting with bridal frocks behind

Meantime, there's still hope for Miss Gao.  On Saturday night, scores of lonely hearts flock to a place that calls itself China's First Paradise for Intellectual Singles.

These intellectuals still prefer to do it in the dark, dance that is.

For those who stike it lucky, there's a wedding parlour in the next room.. For all China's new openness, the pressure is till on.

"Our tradition is still that all women should be married by thirty - at the latest"

10.03

V/O Shot through window with sign at "Women's hotline"

Madam Wang on phone

V/O

For many women, economic reform and changing sexual attitudes have created a whole new range of dilemmas.

Madam Wang runs the Women's Hotline.  Today's topic is sex.  Many of the callers are men, whose main problem is how they perform.

"My penis is rather short.  I've been married for a month, and my sex life is very depressing."

More and more women too are calling about sex...But those are way outnumbered by female callers with serious crises on their hands.

"My husband wants to divorce me, I don't know why.  He doesn't even come home any more."

10.54

V/O Madam Wang on phone

Madam Wang says the divorce rate has more than doubled since the 80s.  And the concept of fidelity is going out of style.  In such a conservative society, it's women who bear the brunt.

11.14

‘Cobra" rehearsal

Drummer warming up

But more and more women are fighting for their own place in China's fast-changing society.

Wang Xiaofang and her friends have definitely rejected the traditional female role model.

The're better know as ‘Cobra'. China's all-girl rock and roll band.

"On the face of it I can cook, which is rather girlish, and I can make clothes..but what's different is my attitude to life.  It's a matter of how you think."

12.00

V/O Band playing

Playing rock music here is risky anyway.  Performing without a government permit is illegal, and the Culture Ministry censors the

lyrics of all songs. But for the

women of 'Cobra', social attitudes

are the biggest hurdles.

"For hundreds of years women were

at the bottom of this society. Now we

want to get on top!"

12.39

Interiors, Nightman

disco, woman

dancing wildly on

stage

Girls dancing

There are some elements of

China's sexual upheaval that the

government is eager to keep down.

Homosexuality, for one.

While it might be OK for girls to say

yes now, the government's answer

on the question of gay

relationships is a definite no.

13.03

Wan Yan Hai on

dance floor

MUSIC Wan's

friends dancing

Wan Yan Hai is one of a tiny group

of gay activists. It's not an easy

job.

In the 1980's homosexuals were

still being sentenced to reform

through labour for up to 4 or 5

years. And just last year in Beijing,

there was the biggest number of

arrests of homosexuals ever, about

200 people, arrested in parks, not

for doing anything, just for being

homosexual- .( j

"Young man, there's a place where

you can go, I said young man, when

you're short of your dough ..."

13.41

V/o Young men

being camp

Despite the obstacles, there's a

new sense of hope and defiance ...

"and I'm sure you will find many ways

to have a good time ..."

13.52

V/O

Gay nightspots are thriving, and a

growing number of men are coming

out. But these are a brave minority.

The government makes it clear that

homosexuals are better off neither

seen nor heard.

"I was arrested for no reason. I lost

my job. I have no home to go to, I'm

just drifting around .."

14.16

V/O

The story told by Wan's lawyer

friend Han Yue is a tragic but not

untypical tale of gay life in China.

"I'll probably have to get married this

year. If I do, it'll mean suffering for an innocent girl, but I've got no choice."

15.10

V/O Exteriors, cops

on door

V/O Inside, hectic

music and dirty

dancing

China's authorities are keeping a

close eye on the sex life of the

nation. The great sexual leap

forward, unleashed by its own

policies, has the government

unnerved.

They may not be able to stop this

revolution, but they're determined

to keep it under control...

15.49

(Music to end)

ENDS