Index: django/core/template/__init__.py
===================================================================
--- django/core/template/__init__.py	(revision 1435)
+++ django/core/template/__init__.py	(working copy)
@@ -620,7 +620,10 @@
     except VariableDoesNotExist:
         obj = ''
     for name, arg in filters:
-        obj = registered_filters[name][0](obj, arg)
+        if type(obj) == str:
+            obj = registered_filters[name][0](obj.decode(DEFAULT_CHARSET), arg).encode(DEFAULT_CHARSET)
+        else:
+            obj = registered_filters[name][0](obj, arg)
     return obj
 
 class Node: