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City of Life and Death
南京!南京!
2009 132 min China, Hong Kong R 18+
★8.0
Drama, History, War
Director: Chuan Lu
Trailers
Description
In 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, then-capital of the Republic of China. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a six week period wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.
Budget:
$12M
US Gross:
$122,558
Worldwide:
$10.65M
Starring
Ye Liu
Actor
Wei Fan
Actor
Hideo Nakaizumi
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2010
— Best Director
Asian Film Academy 2010
— Best Cinematography
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2009
— Golden Shell
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2009
— Golden Shell
Asian Film Academy 2010
— Best Original Score
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2009
— Best Cinematography
Key opinion
City of Life and Death is a harrowing, naturalistic depiction of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre that prioritizes raw, documentary-style immersion over traditional heroic tropes. Its stark black-and-white cinematography and unflinching portrayal of human cruelty create a profound, albeit emotionally grueling, viewing experience.
| Cinematography | The black-and-white cinematography masterfully evokes the grit of historical chronicle footage while tempering the onscreen horrors for the viewer. | |
| Originality | The film succeeds in portraying the Nanjing Massacre through multiple perspectives, effectively humanizing both the oppressed Chinese population and the conflicted Japanese soldiers. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure eschews commercial conventions and traditional heroic arcs, favoring a somber, chronicle-like flow that some find deeply profound and others find difficult to engage with. | |
| Production | The production design and technical recreation, from period-accurate cityscapes to costumes, provide a stunning and authentic foundation for the historical drama. | |
| Emotion | The film delivers a crushing emotional impact that leaves a lasting, bitter imprint, serving as an effective but exhausting confrontation with wartime atrocities. |