City of Life and Death

It's not entertainment in the straight sense of the term but it is compellingly informative if you don't know very much of the Japanese invasion and occupancy of Nanking, the former capital of China. Based on actual events those horrors are very much condensed by the Chinese film makers into this 2 hour 10 minutes epic in dour black & white photography.The film starts with war action, a little confusing at times but gritty and well done. Followed by the capture, during which many thousands of Chinese prisoners of war as well as civilians were methodically executed by machine-gunning, drowning and being buried alive. The film-maker missed out showing the contests of decapitations of prisoners by Japanese officers.What followed was the hounding and rape of women and children and the efforts of an international community to protect the civilians in 'safe zones'. Here the film gets very up close and personal showing the experiences of various protectors and sufferers.At times the film is graphic without being gory such as in films like 'Men Behind The Sun', and the levels of shock are hard hitting for those who who may be expecting a drama ---- this is tinged with horror.A little bit surreal for the last 10 minutes but there is an outstanding dance sequence reminiscent of the All Blacks 'Haka' that lingers long after the film closed.In Chinese and Japanese with English subtitles throughout even for the limited English dialogue.

A masterful but harrowing film dealing with the Battle of Nanjing and the subsequent massacre and rape of the city in 1937 by the invading Japanese – one of the worst war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army.Shot in stark black and white, the story is told from both sides – a fictional Japanese soldier, Kadokawa who develops a conflict of conscience over the actions he sees around him, against the background of real events with real characters such as John Rabe and Minnie Vautrin who tried to save people by establishing a Safety Zone in the city - which was repeatedly violated by marauding troops.It's a difficult film to watch; anyone who has studied this episode in Chinese/Japanese history will know how dreadful the historical facts were and although this is a distressing and violent depiction, the reality was actually worse – brutal though it is, the film-makers have (mercifully) shown some restraint.A powerful film one probably can't bring oneself to watch very often, but one that needed to be made.The UK DVD release of this Chinese film has English subtitles; there are no extras.There are some very ill-informed and insensitive reviews on this page – I trust one will ignore them for what they are.

I have Japanese wife as we met through mutual friends what later on shown to be undercover Moonies , I tried to find cultural background and cognitive platform for us and our children to meet as empowered beings with responsibility for past and not compromised by guilt of our ancestors . I gad not succeed so far, as she either deflect guilt for being blamed, what she is not, or to liberate herself from legacy of past by being member of the cult or church or?? That experience of Nanking or Lidice or Oradour or Dresden what does not belong to us but inevitably relate to our ? human cognizance. . Before we met we communicated our IDs, I had vague knowledge for what really happened , my past was based on European cultural legacy of War and void what it left - artificial Piety.. The void what we placate by heroism visualised on screen by Hollywood characters and official pageants laying of wreaths to those who are dead. When in time my wife gave sanitized answers on herself as the view - and family past self victimisation by someone else - as for her Grandma with daughter her mum run away from Korea where they lived privileged life as part occupation force - in charge of services to army a kind, and when we talked generally about Peace and its sister whore War I found 2 humans in no man land. After marriage she disclosed herself as Missionary for rev. Moon and FFWPU and the piece as they call themselves on her The Burmese Harp mission- Jihad . I would recommend to any one to see the Burmese Harp with the City of death . Neither of them are Real death - both are artistic idealization of events what I call Entropy of Humankind . Idealised . As I met the jihad face to face and the luck gave me the opportunity to speak about the lack not being either hero or dead yet. I would recommend to all Young men and patriots to see The City of Life and death - relate it to camp Delta or US army base in Saudi Arabia where female soldiers have to carry whistle and other personal devices to protect themselves from being raped by fellow soldiers , and to see The Burmese Harp where idolisation of Japanese soldiers and their relationship to local population in liberated Co prosperity zone is presented in manner of Visit to the Disney land. , and then To see the City of life and death again recognize difference between Mass murder encouraged by Military elite professionals in charge, the empowerment of morally weak individuals over those others by the Religion and obeyance in form of staged tragedy what suck in all - what it does over humankind . I value this movie as it shows human values of Rabbe and American Missionaries - what I see weak is Japanese racial madness- as having the privilege to live some time in Japan I experienced that Japanese people see themselves as A victims and vanquished by someone else not by their choices - so far they keep it under the carpet or as My wife cross dress it into the religious cult of some kind FFWPU or Shinto or just community pageant - They do not see themselves as tool for technical intelligence what uses them as bearers - and the religion replacing Human sentiment. I wish my children to see it and then to be encouraged to share its experience with other people and their victims as it is Liberating . When war ended its end was the truth. it was liberating all from killing and hate -and at present we are still in progress of wining in the world of living and dead. Yoshio Kodama war criminal bank rolled FFWPU in Japan When he was exposed at Loockhead scandal he was back room operator of Japanese diet. And fooled peasants are empowered to kill rape bomb serve to ? IT - as the Global elite have no quality to inspire us for something benefiting Humankind itself. Religion of Death and Hate regardless of word Peace ,what swallowed regurgirated and spat on fooled for demoncratic agreement. Human crowd management.

The "Rape of Nanking". Ferociously magnificent film. One cannot help being moved by the enduring human spirit in the face of such appalling violence. A ghastly piece of history that everyone should be aware of. Well worth watching.

This movie portrays some truths that the Chinese people encountered during Japanese occupation. It gives an insight into the hell these poor innocent people went through. My wife is Chinese and her grandparents told me of this terrible event which they described to be even worse. I had never previously heard about this event. This film gives a good portrayal of how cruel humans can be to innocent people. This is a disturbing and sad film. Definitely worth watching.

I can't say I enjoyed this film but I don't think anyone should. Well made and heart wrenching story depicting the horrific events following the Japanese capture of Nanjing in 1937. Civilians butchered in a massive scale and thousands of women raped. The second world war had not even started but humanities inhuman side was already being displayed.