Nanjing! Nanjing! (2009)

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.

Director:

Chuan Lu

Writer:

Chuan Lu

Stars:

Ye Liu, Wei Fan, Hideo Nakaizumi

11 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ye Liu	...	Lu Jianxiong
Yuanyuan Gao	...	Miss Jiang
Wei Fan	...	Mr. Tang
Lan Qin	...	Mrs. Tang
Hideo Nakaizumi	...	Sgt. Masao Kadokawa
Ryu Kohata	...	Officer Osamu Ida (as Kohata Ryuichi)
Yiyan Jiang	...	Jiang Xiang Jun / Xiao Jiang
Di Yao	...	Zhou Xiaomei / May
Yisui Zhao	...	Shunzi
Bin Liu	...	Xiao Douzi (Juvenile)
Yûko Miyamoto	...	Yuriko
John Paisley	...	John Rabe
Beverly Peckous	...	Miss Minnie Vautrin
Sam Voutas	...	Durdin (as You Sima)
Aisling Dunne	...	Doctor

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

chinese history | japanese occupation of china | atrocity | battle | chinese | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for wartime violence and atrocities including sexual assault, and for some sexuality and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

China Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin English Japanese German

Release Date:

22 April 2009 (China)

Also Known As:

City of Life and Death

Filming Locations:

Changchun, China

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,610, 15 May 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$119,922, 30 October 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), Chuan Films, Jiangsu Broadcasting System

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The atrocities are referred to as the Nanking Massacre in China. However, in Japan it is the "Nanking Incident".

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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 Reviews

the tragedy of history

A very fine movie, strong and rather heavy. I was relatively familiar with the events that took place in Nanjing therefore I was not surprised by the atrocities I saw reenacted on the big screen.The device of shooting the film in black and white was effective, in the sense that it created an impression akin to a documentary or a current affairs reportage of the age. Alessandro Ahmenabar may have said that he wanted "Agora" to give the impression that it reported events from 4th century A.D. Alexandria like a CNN live correspondence but I think "The City of Life and Death" was the movie that succeeded on that, giving to the spectator the impression of watching the events in live coverage.

Although it portrayed numerous atrocities, it masterfully avoided the trap of succumbing to "pornography of violence". It also tried to treat the incidences of mass rape and "comfort women", which after all are the reasons that the conquest of Nanking became notorious and was named The Rape of Nanking, in a relatively discreet manner, the only one possible.

The actors were expressive and one must note that this multi-person drama, lacking a protagonist was reminiscent of the technique of the films of Robert Altman also lacking a protagonist.

It was also a good idea to create a positive and repentant Japanese character in order to alleviate the obnoxious impression that the viewer would form about the Japenese people in general.

I do not know whether there is a propaganda value in this movie but judging it a work of art, being not involved in Sino-Japanese affairs, I find it outstanding.