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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
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
    • Chuan Lu
    • Chuan Lu
  • Stars
    • Ye Liu
    • Wei Fan
    • Hideo Nakaizumi
    • Chuan Lu
    • Chuan Lu
  • Stars
    • Ye Liu
    • Wei Fan
    • Hideo Nakaizumi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 77User reviews
    • 148Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    City of Life and Death
    Trailer 1:23
    Watch 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
      • Chuan Lu
      • 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 reviews77

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Gripping and intense film depicting terrible deeds during Japonese invasion in Nanjing
    Big budget WWII epic , it happens when China is invaded by Japan at the onset of war and finds Japanese army surrounding city of Nanjing (1937). After that, at the city take place violations, mutilations, and massacres. Some prisoners are interred in a prison camp but later they are led to fire squad, scaffold and alive burying.

    Director deglamorizes war showing true horror and terrible events. It's a staggering evocation of the Chinese Holocausto in Nanjing , as the atrocities are depicted matter of factly as by-product of sheer Japanese evil. The opening twenty minutes graphic depiction the facing off is , on its own, magnificent. The film-maker Chuan Lu is nicknamed the Chinese Steven Spielberg for his spectacular and impressive productions. As the moving beginning results to be as stirring as ¨Saving private Ryan¨ , the developing of the movie regarding invasion China is partially similar to ¨Empire of the sun¨ and suffering of Chinese people bear remarkable resemblance to Jews of ¨Schlindler list¨ .The starring, Nakaizumi, and the rest of the cast are excellent , as the movie is powered by splendid performances in charge of Chinese and Japanese actors who during filming suffered some inevitable discussions. Filmed in perfect black and white by cameraman Cao Yu , reflecting appropriately the grim and rotten environment .Lu Chuan makes a breathtaking work which directs spectacularly with groundbreaking scenes in a heartbreaking context.Chuan dedicated about three years joining information and interviewing experts for that scenes would adequate to reality of events. This masterpiece finally garnered the world attention and respect that the story deserves, winning several prizes in various International Festivals.
    helpful•40
    2
    • ma-cortes
    • Apr 14, 2010

    Details

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

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 13 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Dolby Digital

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