Paul Byrnes’s film review of Mao’s Last Dancer, published in full and extract form since October 2, took issue with the film’s dialogue, in particular quoting: ‘‘Life in China not so good. I dance better here because feet more free.’’ This was incorrect. The full quote should have read ‘‘… in China, not so easy. Tell you what to do, where to go, what can say. Maybe I can’t come back.’’ And after a pause: ‘‘You know, I must dance political ballet in China, but I dance better here, because feel more free.’’ The Herald apologises for the error.
Here’s the letter to the editor that preceded to correction.
Any dramatist will tell you what a cheap and lazy shot it is when a critic quotes a line of dialogue out of context and uses it to tarnish the work and reputation of the writer.
In his review of my film Mao’s Last Dancer (‘‘Best foot forward’’, October 3-4), Paul Byrnes has gone one step further and invented his own dialogue and then ascribed it to me, saying, ‘‘That’s a good example of how awful the dialogue gets.’’ Well, you ought to know, Paul, you wrote it!
The scene in question happens after Li Cunxin is refused permission by the Chinese Government to extend his stay in America and his mentor, Ben Stevenson, reassures him that he’ll be able to come back one day. Li then discusses it with his girlfriend (in his broken English), in my version as follows: ‘‘Ben not understand. He too much in love with China. In China, not so easy. Tell what to do, where to go, what can say. Maybe I can’t come back. (Pause.) You know, I must dance political ballet in China, but I dance better here because feel more free.’’
Paul Byrnes’s bastardised version is: ‘‘Life in China not so good. I dance better here because feet more free.’’
Shame on you. Herald readers deserve better, and so do I.
Jan Sardi
Screenwriter, Mao’s Last Dancer
Eltham (Vic)
Thanks, Steve!
From February 8, 2007, the Herald published a number of articles in print and online, including a news blog, concerning Professor Di Yerbury who had served as Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University for more than 19 years to February 2006. Professor Yerbury has alleged that the articles depicted her as dishonestly commingling her private art collection with the University’s own art collection and failing honestly to account for her use of the University’s credit card. The Herald at no time intended to convey any such allegations against Professor Yerbury. If readers understood the articles as in any way reflecting upon her honesty and probity, the Herald withdraws those allegations and apologises for the hurt to Professor Yerbury and any damage to her reputation. 
The Timelines reference on Tuesday to Samuel Morse’s first public demonstration of his telegraph should have said it was 1838, not 1938.
In a letter published yesterday (”A choired taste”), the word “ironic” was mistakenly substituted for “irenic”. 
In Saturday’s story “Afghanistan slips under a blind eye” the date used when referring to the terrorism attacks in the United States was wrong. It was, of course, September 11, 2001. 
The unconfirmed rumour in the Words column of September 6-7 about the way Ikea’s product-naming system offended the Danes turned out to be just that – a rumour and false. 
Yesterday’s Good Living incorrectly said that the award-winning Canberra restaurant Aubergine had closed. In fact, the restaurant has changed ownership and remains open for business.
A headline on Tuesday’s page one pointer to an inside article relating to the inquest into the death of Ms Joyce Germain should not have suggested she had been murdered. The coroner has yet to make his finding.
AN ARTICLE “Neal sent to committee for demon child taunt” (June 18) said the Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella had called the Labor MP Annette Ellis a “man-hater” in Federal Parliament. The exchange was recorded as such in the unedited Hansard but Ms Mirabella has since corrected the record to show that she was referring to another Labor MP, Belinda Neal.
Yesterday’s story ‘Stan’s ban for swimmer’, should not have stated that former national squad member Tatiana Holodnow was banned for three months by Softball Australia for testing positive to cocaine. She tested positive to cannabis.
Another article, “China fears the power of its society”, incorrectly calculated 2 million yuan as $301. The right amount is $301,000.
AN ITEM (Herald, June 15, 2007) dealing with medical certificates issued to students at Central Queensland University was or may have been damaging to the reputation of Dr Hisham Salem. CQU has told the Herald it does not believe any certificates referred to in the article were issued or obtained fraudulently, and that Dr Salem has not been identified as issuing a disproportionate number of certificates. The Herald withdraws any suggestion to the contrary, and apologises to Dr Salem for any hurt or damage suffered as a result of the article’s publication. 
A QUOTE from a spokeswoman for the Ports and Waterways Minister, Joe Tripodi, in Friday’s article “Harbourmasters shed light on deadly fears” said the minister “may have overstated the case” when discussing NSW Maritime’s presence on Sydney Harbour. The quote arose out of a misunderstanding between the spokeswoman and the journalist and the Herald accepts the spokeswoman does not believe Mr Tripodi overstated the case or provided inaccurate information. 
An article in the Timelines section on March 31 (In The Herald: 1988), referred to a court case in 1988 involving a contempt of court summons against the then senior workers’ compensation commissioner Brian Muirhead. The article should have reported that the matter was eventually settled in Mr Muirhead’s favour. The Herald apologises to Mr Muirhead for the omission. 
The article “Banker accused of sexual harassment” (April 14) concerned the alleged conduct of Michael Blomfield during his employment at the Commonwealth Bank. The Herald accepts that the allegations published about Mr Blomfield are untested and are regarded as false not only by Mr Blomfield but by the bank, which has thoroughly investigated them. The Herald did not intend to suggest the allegations were true and withdraws any such suggestion. The Herald sincerely apologises to Mr Blomfield for any distress and embarrassment caused to him and his family. 
Yesterday’s article “Ferry master reckless, court told” incorrectly said a dinghy involved in a harbour accident had a 250-horsepower outboard engine. It was a 25-horsepower motor.
THURSDAY’S article “Plastic bag use surges by billion” said the more than 4 billion bags which were imported into Australia last year contained about 22 million tonnes of plastic. To the relief of shoppers, the correct figure is about 22,000 tonnes.
In the previous issue, the article City of the Dead inadvertently attributed quotes to Jack Fisher described as “the trustee of the Jewish section” of Rookwood Cemetery. The(sydney)magazine accepts that the words quoted were not those of Mr Fisher and do not represent his views in any way. We apologise unreservedly to Mr Fisher for the error.
Last week’s Polish Happy Easter suffered a computer spelling spasm. It should have read: Wesolych Swiat Wielkanocnych.
