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IMDbPro

City of Life and Death

Original title: Nanjing! Nanjing!
  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 2h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,387
4,269
City of Life and Death (2009)
A dramatization of the rape of Nanking in 1937.
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
39 Photos
DramaHistoryWar
In 1937, Japan occupied Nanjing, the Chinese capital. There was a battle and subsequent atrocities against the inhabitants, especially those who took refuge in the International Security Zon... Read allIn 1937, Japan occupied Nanjing, the Chinese capital. There was a battle and subsequent atrocities against the inhabitants, especially those who took refuge in the International Security Zone.In 1937, Japan occupied Nanjing, the Chinese capital. There was a battle and subsequent atrocities against the inhabitants, especially those who took refuge in the International Security Zone.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,387
4,269
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Chuan Lu
    • Writer
      • Chuan Lu
    • Stars
      • Ye Liu
      • Wei Fan
      • Hideo Nakaizumi
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Chuan Lu
    • Writer
      • Chuan Lu
    • Stars
      • Ye Liu
      • Wei Fan
      • Hideo Nakaizumi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 74User reviews
    • 148Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 13 nominations

    Videos1

    City of Life and Death
    Trailer 1:23
    City of Life and Death

    Photos39

    City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    John Paisley and Wei Fan in City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    Ryu Kohata in City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)
    Lan Qin in City of Life and Death (2009)
    City of Life and Death (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ye Liu
    Ye Liu
    • Lu Jianxiong
    Wei Fan
    Wei Fan
    • Mr. Tang
    Hideo Nakaizumi
    • Sgt. Masao Kadokawa
    Yuanyuan Gao
    Yuanyuan Gao
    • Miss Jiang
    Lan Qin
    Lan Qin
    • Mrs. Tang
    Ryu Kohata
    • Officer Osamu Ida
    • (as Kohata Ryuichi)
    Yiyan Jiang
    • Jiang Xiang Jun…
    Di Yao
    Di Yao
    • Zhou Xiaomei…
    Yisui Zhao
    • Shunzi
    Bin Liu
    • Xiao Douzi (Juvenile)
    Yûko Miyamoto
    • Yuriko
    John Paisley
    • John Rabe
    Beverly Peckous
    • Miss Minnie Vautrin
    Sam Voutas
    Sam Voutas
    • Durdin
    • (as You Sima)
    Aisling Dunne
    • Doctor
    Junichi Kajioka
    • Mr. Tomita
    Jin-Ling Liu
    • Interpreter
    Zhen-Hua Zhao
    • Refugee camp old lady
    • Director
      • Chuan Lu
    • Writer
      • Chuan Lu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Witnesses at the time said at least 20,000 women were raped and there were widespread reports of other atrocities. Among the most notorious--which was not shown in the film--was a "contest" between two Japanese officers, Lt. Toshiaki Mukai and Lt. Tsuyochi Noda, to see who could behead the most prisoners in a given amount of time. Captured Chinese soldiers were lined up and each officer used his ceremonial sword to behead them. The final "score" was Mukai 106, Noda 105. The event was covered extensively in Japanese newspapers at the time, complete with photos of the two. After the war, they were captured, tried and executed.
    • Goofs
      After Rabe leaves Nanjin, there is a scene showing the execution of 3 Chinese men tied to posts. After the execution, when the man on the right post is untied and his body laid on the ground by guards, one can clearly see the actor lowering his head down slowly on the ground. The head of a dead body would have dropped more massively.

    User reviews74

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Unflinching, Painful and Without Apologies
    It is said that evil can only manifest itself when we do nothing to stop it. When we simply allow for it to happen whether in our lives or in the lives of others. The Japanese soldiers who invaded Nanking justified their horrific acts by claiming pride and duty towards their beloved country. Barbaric and without mercy, these troops of doom descended upon the city like the worst nightmare ever conjured by humans. Imagine an army of serial killers and rapists wreaking havoc without being reined in and you'll get an idea. Kudos and hats off to the director for having the courage to bring this shameful blemish in world history to life. Unflinching, painful and without apologies.
    helpful•28
    6
    • OneMinuteFilmReview
    • Aug 18, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 2009 (China)
    • Countries of origin
      • China
      • Hong Kong
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • English
      • Japanese
      • German
    • Also known as
      • 南京！南京！
    • Filming locations
      • Changchun, China
    • Production companies
      • China Film Group Corporation (CFGC)
      • Chuan Films
      • Jiangsu Broadcasting System
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $122,558
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,610
      • May 15, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,687,316
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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