SYNOPSIS:
City of Life And Death takes place in 1937 during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Imperial Army has just captured the then-capital of the Republic of China, Nanjing. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, a period of several weeks wherein massive numbers of Chinese prisoners of war and civilians are killed. The film tells the story of several figures both historical and fictional including a Chinese soldier, a schoolteacher, a Japanese soldier, a foreign missonary and John Rabe, a Nazi businessman who would ultimately save thousands of Chinese civilians.
MOVIE REVIEW:
City of Life and Death is director Lu Chuan’s(Kekexili: Mountain Patrol) take on the Nanjing Massacre, one of the history’s worst war time atrocities. Infamous for the Japanese soldiers’ brutalities towards the Chinese during it’s occupation and invasion, it would seems like this would be another film that demonize the Japanese soldiers for what they have done but it isn’t as Lu Chuan took a balance stance to show how war victimize both sides.
The first act of City of Life and Death showcase the visceral invasion sequence that brings to mind of the war sequences in Saving Private Ryan. It follows the last bit of heroic effort by the guerrilla resistance fighting against the overwhelming invasion. The last bid of defiance was heartfelt and definitely strokes a strong patriotic pride.
The next act, it showcase how different personals from both side of war are affected by the war. On the Chinese side, it shows how John Rabe’s secretary Mr Tang collaboration with the Japanese for his family’s safety. It contemplates on the moral complexity of Mr Tang and question about his acts of betrayal to his Chinese counterparts for his family was justifiable.
On the Japanese side, we follow a naïve, sensitive and innocent Japanese soldier who gets harden by what he witness during the invasion. His character helps to contrast that not every Japanese soldiers are psycho maniac. His helplessness to the inevitable atrocities going around him and his call of duties made him a character to sympathize.
Even though it does shows a sympathize viewpoint from the Japanese side, it certain did not shy away from the horrible war crime that the Japanese had done to the Chinese. The selection of comfort women and how surrender Chinese men were gunned down by machine guns are some of the most unforgettable moments in this movie.
Shot in black and white to remind us the grimness of war and especially what happened in the Nanjing Massacre. It will be hard to forget this film after watching it. Friends around had been raving about this movie and it’s not hard to see why is that so. It’s educational to those young Chinese (and even non Chinese) who are not aware of this horrible past. It gives a balance insight to both parties of a war and teaches us the atrocities of war. Hopefully that this emotional piece of work would inspire it’s viewers to research more on the events that occurred in 1937 and work towards a war free future for mankind.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The black and white cinematography of City of Life and Death presented by this dvd are quite lush, crisp and clear. The war sequences presented here are loud and stirring when required.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Richard Lim Jr
Posted on 14 December 2009
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