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The Flowers of War

Original title: Jin ling shi san chai
  • 2011
  • R
  • 2h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
54K
YOUR RATING
Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Jia Sun, Bai Xue, Xiting Han, Xinyi Zhang, and Yuemin Li in The Flowers of War (2011)
A Westerner finds refuge with a group of women in a church during Japan's raid of Nanking in 1937. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.
Play trailer2:33
3 Videos
86 Photos
DramaHistoryRomance

An American finds refuge during the 1937 Japanese invasion of Nanking in a church with a group of women. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.An American finds refuge during the 1937 Japanese invasion of Nanking in a church with a group of women. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.An American finds refuge during the 1937 Japanese invasion of Nanking in a church with a group of women. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.

  • Director
    • Yimou Zhang
  • Writers
    • Heng Liu
    • Geling Yan
  • Stars
    • Christian Bale
    • Ni Ni
    • Xinyi Zhang
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    54K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Yimou Zhang
    • Writers
      • Heng Liu
      • Geling Yan
    • Stars
      • Christian Bale
      • Ni Ni
      • Xinyi Zhang
    • 178User reviews
    • 138Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 15 wins & 16 nominations

    Videos3

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch U.S. Version
    The Flowers Of War
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch The Flowers Of War
    The Flowers Of War
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch The Flowers Of War

    Photos86

    Christian Bale in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale and Tianyuan Huang in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale, Ni Ni, and Xinyi Zhang in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale and Ni Ni in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Ni Ni and Xinyi Zhang in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Ni Ni and Xinyi Zhang in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale and Yimou Zhang in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale and Ni Ni in The Flowers of War (2011)
    Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Jia Sun, Bai Xue, Xinyi Zhang, Yuemin Li, and Doudou Zhang in The Flowers of War (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christian Bale
    Christian Bale
    • John Miller
    Ni Ni
    Ni Ni
    • Yu Mo
    Xinyi Zhang
    Xinyi Zhang
    • Shu
    • (as Zhang Xinyi)
    Tianyuan Huang
    • George Chen
    • (as Huang Tianyuan)
    Xiting Han
    • Yi
    • (as Han Xiting)
    Doudou Zhang
    Doudou Zhang
    • Ling
    • (as Zhang Doudou)
    Dawei Tong
    Dawei Tong
    • Major Li
    Atsuro Watabe
    Atsuro Watabe
    • Colonel Hasegawa
    Kefan Cao
    • Mr. Meng
    • (as Cao Kefan)
    Yangchunzi Yuan
    • Mosquito
    • (as Yuan Yangchunzi)
    Jia Sun
    • Hua
    • (as Sun Jia)
    Yuemin Li
    • Dou
    • (as Li Yuemin)
    Bai Xue
    • Lan
    Takashi Yamanaka
    Takashi Yamanaka
    • Lieutenant Asakura
    Shigeo Kobayashi
    • Lieutenant Kato
    Paul Schneider
    Paul Schneider
    • Terry
    Chun Li
    Chun Li
    • Woman of the Qin Huai River
    • (as Li Chun)
    Mengqiao Zhou
    • Woman of the Qin Huai River
    • (as Zhou Mengqiao)
    • Director
      • Yimou Zhang
    • Writers
      • Heng Liu
      • Geling Yan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is banned in Japan.
    • Quotes

      John Miller: The way you are now, is what I like the best. I see you. I see everything that you've been through. And I want all of that, Mo. I want all of it. I love it. I love it all.

    • Alternate versions
      Unlike most versions of movies released in China but produced by other countries, which often cut scenes (usually for violence), this film was shown with additional scenes in Hong Kong and Taiwan. These chiefly pertained to the Chinese and Japanese troop battle early in the film. This Chinese-released version contains 3 minutes 46 seconds of additional footage.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Love Theme 1
      Performed by Joshua Bell and Yi Zhang

      (Played during Opening Credits)

      Composed by Qi Gang Chen

    User reviews178

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Good Movie is Like a Mirror
    I watched the movie in Beijing, twice. The second time I liked it more. This has to be one of the best Chinese films yet, if not the best. Some scenes are pretty brutal, but really worth watching, to say the least.

    The director Zhang YiMou told a powerful, touching and beautiful story, while delivering stunning visual effects as always. All actors from different countries did an amazing job in making so many strong characters in 3 languages, not just the American 'priest', but also those prostitutes, the boy George, all the children, Japanese officers, and the Chinese 'traitor'.

    Good movie is like a mirror, some people might get upset watching it, while others see love for others, respect for life, and the human spirit of fighting for peace out of tragedy. Each audience's reaction more or less reflects his/her personal value. The storytelling is objective so you can judge for yourself. In front of a masterpiece like this, people who ranked it very low deliberately because of stereotypes against China or whatever twisted reason (I KNOW YOU EXSIT ON THIS SITE), you need to sit down and think what's wrong with yourself, no matter how open-minded you claim you are.

    Some say it is a propaganda production. I have to disagree here. Almost everything in this movie is based on real history, including how Japanese tortured Chinese war victims, how prostitutes stood up to protect other women during the Rape of NanJing, as well as how some westerners resided in China at the time helped local Chinese. Anyone who can pick up a few books or do a bit of research on internet knows it.

    English is not my mother language so I can't write an review with big words like those professional critics do. However, this is the first time I feel so moved by a movie that I'd write an English review online to recommend it to viewers outside of China. Simply too good to miss.

    If any Chinese simply walked out of the cinema cursing Japanese, I'd say the movie failed big time. However, both times I saw people left quietly, some still sobbing, and heard them saying how lucky they are to be born in this era and how precious peace is. For that reason, I applaud this film.

    It is what it is. Horrible things happened in history. Hate and anger won't do any good today. Make peace with yourself and move on. Just like what George said in the movie, life is precious, it is not ours to throw away.
    helpful•365
    45
    • sonia-0111
    • Dec 20, 2011

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    FAQ2

    • What other movies are there regarding the Second Sino-Japanese War?
    • What are the differences between the censored European Version and the Original Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 2011 (China)
    • Country of origin
      • China
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • Japanese
      • English
      • Shanghainese
    • Also known as
      • 13 Flowers of Nanjing
    • Production company
      • Xin Huamian Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $94,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $311,434
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $48,448
      • Jan 22, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,855,644
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Jia Sun, Bai Xue, Xiting Han, Xinyi Zhang, and Yuemin Li in The Flowers of War (2011)
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