Korea Beach
Zen Master J

City of Life and Death - Nanjing! Nanjing! (Film)

nanjing-nanjing-city-of-life-and-death
nanjing-nanjing-04

Nanjing! Nanjing! - City of life and death - was not an emotional roller coaster as most films like this tend to be.  There was no happiness.  There was no point that I felt like jumping for joy.  If you know anything about the Japanese “rape of Nanking,” then you know that it was one of the most horrific massacres in recorded history.

Yet, the film didn’t seem to dig deep enough in our emotions - perhaps due to the lack of happiness or hope or even character development (the characters are sort of just there, there is very little change in their character).  There seems to be a slight amount of hope in the opening scene, but that quickly fades and the movie continues on a very gray path as the Japanese quickly come in and demolish everything.

The implications of Nanjing! Nanjing! are extremely important.  Previous Japan-China war films were very one sided - showing only the Japanese brutality and Chinese determination and nationalism.  This film’s main character is actually a Japanese soldier with a conscious.  He is appalled by the horrors that his fellow soldiers are inflicting upon the Chinese and even upon their own (the comfort women included Japanese).

A Japanese main character with a conscious to me seems like a director trying to make a change.  There has been very little reconciliation between Japan and China since the war, and Nanjing! Nanjing! is the largest step that I have seen so far.  To me this film says “Hey Japan, we understand that not all Japanese are evil.  There were a lot of bad things that were done, sure, but it’s not impossible to reconcile as long as you show remorse.”

Wouldn’t it be amazing if a Japanese director then made a film in response to this gesture?

One thing that bothered me a little bit about the film is how watered down it feels.  I imagine that what really happened in Nanjing is a lot more horrific than anything that is shown in this film.  The rapes, the grotesque and perverted murders are all semi-covered up and watered down.  There are scenes with bodies and deaths, but none of it makes you turn your head.

My only guess as to why the director chose to take this path was that the underlying point of the film is not to show what everyone already knows - that the rape of Nanking would make any fan of “Saw” cringe - but rather to send that other message: we will not forget, but we can move on.

2 Thumbs up from me.  Go see it!

Has anyone else out there seen the movie?  What do you think?  Did you like it?

7 Responses to “City of Life and Death - Nanjing! Nanjing! (Film)”

  1. ziva said:

    During holiday–International Labor Day I seen this movie in Broadway Cinema. It was a shock to see Japanese soldier brutal behavior. When Japanese soldier throw out Mr. Jiang’s daughter from the window, I couldn’t help my tears. And finish watching the movie with my weep eyes.
    Beyond my personal emotion, I don’t think Lu Chuan (director) is simply introducing one of the most horrific massacres in recorded history in China to us. There was a shady in everyone’s deep heart, no matter Chinese or Japanese.
    At the beginning of the film, Jiao Chuan (the Japanese solder) lost himself in the sunlight. When Jiao Chuan first meet Bai He (Japanese comfort women), his naturally response for today is freak in that background, and embarrassed him. Jiao Chuan was desperate when Bai He was dead because of many solder’s ravage. At last, behind the grand worship pageant to death in the war is Jiao Chuan desperate soul. As he said, “dead is easier than life”……
    Another clue is Chinese people. They scared, then they desperate, then they brave to refuse, then they resist. This is a history of Chinese aware to resistance, aware to strength, aware to independence.
    In a word, this is a film which worth to seeing.

    TOP! Don`t forget bring your handkerchief when you see this film.

  2. ziva said:

    During holiday–International Labor Day I seen this movie in Broadway Cinema. It was a shock to see Japanese soldier brutal behavior. When Japanese soldier throw out Mr. Jiang’s daughter from the window, I couldn’t help my tears. And finish watching the movie with my weep eyes.
    Beyond my personal emotion, I don’t think Lu Chuan (director) is simply introducing one of the most horrific massacres in recorded history in China to us. There was a shady in everyone’s deep heart, no matter Chinese or Japanese.
    At the beginning of the film, Jiao Chuan (the Japanese solder) lost himself in the sunlight. When Jiao Chuan first meet Bai He (Japanese comfort women), his naturally response for today is freak in that background, and embarrassed him. Jiao Chuan was desperate when Bai He was dead because of many solder’s ravage. At last, behind the grand worship pageant to death in the war is Jiao Chuan desperate soul. As he said, “dead is easier than life”……
    Another clue is Chinese people. They scared, then they desperate, then they brave to refuse, then they resist. This is a history of Chinese aware to resistance, aware to strength, aware to independence.
    In a word, this is a film which worth to seeing.
    TIPS! Don’t forget bring your handkerchief when you see the film.

  3. John said:

    I think your film review is very good. I would prefer to translate my review to anybody as a Chinese though. Anyway, thx and please let more people know about this film.

  4. Jason Sharp said:

    Hi John. I guess you are Tiger (老虎)?

    I read your film review and I think you make some very good points, and I agree with pretty much everything you said. I didn’t go as in depth as you did with the film technique critique, mainly because I don’t have so much experience and I got pretty lazy with the blog post.

    If you would like to translate your post into English, I’d be happy to post the review here. It’d be nice to give people a taste of what is going on in a Chinese’s head when they watch this film.

  5. Jinkun Hu said:

    Initially, I wanna say this is an impressive review! It is fun to learn about the movie from your angle. But I don’t understand why you say that “the film didn’t seem to dig deep enough in our emotions” , cause so many friends of mine(Chinese) felt extremely sad or angry, even some of them were out of control. Maybe you are right, for you are a foreigner, outside man, which means your mind can be more impersonal than us while you are watching this movie. Besides, I want to explain the watering-down feeling. Chinese government forbids the appearing of extremely violent, erotic and bloody scene in movies. As a result, the director can not bring back the vivid scene of the war. Technically, Nanjing! Nanjing! has passed that bottom line a little bit. Considering the theme of this movie, Chinese goverment just omitted a few of scene of the movie.

  6. Jason Sharp said:

    Jinkun

    Perhaps you are right that it may have been due to the Chinese government. I should have taken that into consideration. I definitely enjoyed the movie, although I do think that it took quite a progressive position when compared to older films in this genre. Thanks for the explanation

  7. Get Instant and Discount Car Insurance said:

    Get Instant and Discount Car Insurance…

    Get advice about how to get instant and discount car insurance online to save your money….

Leave a Reply

  • adamson realtors in laurel mississippi
  • 21st century grants new york
  • 700 bloomfield avenue montclair nj
  • frid ravioli
  • mercedes benz slk review
  • appetizers w smoked salmon
  • converter box s-video firewire
  • churchill roosevelt stalin
  • controlling your temper
  • andrea custer blog
  • apple crumble oatmeal recipe
  • interknobs.com
  • currie windmill company
  • most profitable crops oklahoma
  • internetprovideroffers.com
  • 10 important scientists in history
  • shavedasiangirls.com
  • amazing parrot video
  • staugustinegovernment.com
  • 2000 chrysler sebring bumper cover
  • movmls.com
  • a summary of the novel shane
  • wagnerrentals.com
  • creat a ride
  • artificial lights trout jocassee
  • 2004 nissan frontier parts
  • align text wrap around table html
  • mcsharry reforms
  • apartments for rent bucks county
  • gas fitters in markham ontario canada
  • repairmanuallibrary.com
  • birds of redwood national park
  • all about labrador retrievers
  • biteofasia.com
  • als discount furniture
  • border to border exploration
  • abit an9 32x bios support
  • excell devilbiss pumps
  • cfs2 texture blank
  • plymouth valiant
  • end stage alcohol cirrhosis
  • smc 12vdc valve
  • alex in danger
  • mitotoyo stockists uk
  • cherokee indian superstitions
  • cmd scan rfi
  • glenda brown optometry suwanee ga
  • nwscrubs.com
  • balcony waterproof
  • addicted to body part removal
  • alumina out of ore
  • 4gb ipod nano third generation
  • worldwidewarning.net
  • osama bin bush make love
  • deb marques mma female fighter
  • carhartt dungaree fit
  • doodle friends
  • cheaters show
  • 4.3 vortec add ons
  • 27hr3500 internal resistance measurement
  • audubon birds checklist
  • massivefortunehomebiz.com
  • andhra pradesh telephone directory
  • danby vt israel colvin fisk fiske
  • code-fetish.com
  • casio forester manual
  • free online tmnt games
  • pageantupdate.net
  • back pain with leg pain numbness
  • action pursuit group
  • christian guitar resourses
  • air canada airfares discounted flights
  • greycastle.net
  • 04 dodge durango cold air intake
  • acadian timber
  • cbs dividend
  • ajantaenterprises.com
  • amazon parrot breeder
  • elmwood lawn mower mfg co
  • chattanoogafishingforum.com
  • first class northwest airline pau
  • assessing developmental stage
  • boyce highlands
  • abbreviation for commercial
  • bullseye hubs
  • i hate underwire so much
  • rights of minority shareholders thesis
  • 1230 am waco texas
  • ussnautilus.org
  • equator pfaltzgraff bowl
  • animal crossings room theme cheat codes
  • after prom cruise
  • how to plan a slumber party
  • bikelug collapsible motorcycle trailer
  • venevision.net
  • ferrell calhoun paint
  • belagin waffles
  • cymbalta zombie
  • fafsa for 2 students
  • dr jekyll mr hyde looney toons
  • after christmas burton snowboard sale
  • agco allis parts web site
  • girlsgonewild.name
  • golf outing planning
  • create a submit cancel infopath sharepoint
  • 16mm film splice tape
  • download travel parental permission form
  • covey values and priorities planner
  • jason marcus snell
  • hoffhilk.com
  • costing methodology
  • como bajar musica en internet
  • 18th century trial jean calas
  • creekside at settlers park
  • exhaust couplings
  • ameriquest mortgage securities inc
  • ragamuffinsoul.com
  • 168th air refueling wing commander
  • cervical smear testing
  • loreal color spa moisture actif
  • incest-next-door.com
  • refractory wavy vee anchors
  • 347 stroker dyno runs
  • alaska rock gym
  • camoflauge steering whheel covers
  • attorney for christine farrell
  • 2003 stanley cup winners
  • fineassthumbs.com
  • dr khan okeechobee
  • charles manson jr suicide
  • advertise pay door magnet andnot printing
  • 3 wake pig
  • egyptians mayan toltecs
  • 400ex stock front sprocket
  • all or nothing song
  • antonio mon
  • keystone-hideout.com
  • christopher pollock
  • deborah derrick
  • 2nd new deal school programs
  • 8 million dollar car inheritance
  • harrisville mi realistate
  • kabbalah.info
  • 2008 waterford marquise snowflake ornament
  • cherry coloured funk
  • cause of a volcanic eruption
  • 1995 lexus ls400 oe oxygen sensor
  • blitz dynette
  • alesha dixon breathe slow
  • hard core petites
  • sandee westgate blogspot
  • army to civilian transition
  • aim proxy servers
  • aryan quotes and sayings
  • millen pikes peak
  • gwen 03a
  • abolish-back-pain.com
  • blocking bittorrent ports with wrt54g
  • michael bane
  • airedale terrier pictures photos and pics
  • blood vessels eyes
  • frank edward hutchison
  • do turkeys have testicles
  • bitter and twisted clipart
  • pregnant-links.com
  • 1 4 tsp measuring spoon
  • native american gallerys
  • 220 volt kills
  • sunnyside chimes memorial garden
  • jasmin harman
  • ashburn va internet cable
  • add compare prices stanley product
  • 3planesoft 3d water clock crack
  • 2007 z06 velocity yellow photographs
  • felon informaion
  • allied powers
  • storyinn.com
  • governors crossing sevierville tn
  • discountrvcalifornia.com
  • inspirational stories of kindness
  • bible verses purity
  • cafe josephine
  • 1999 ford windstar stereo
  • buckingham lining bar gang
  • 1899 mexico one peso value
  • altec ipod lansing speaker
  • meteorite august 11 sierra
  • alps italy
  • 10 interesting facts on salvador dali
  • beutiful liar
  • allan ross photography
  • build fuel efficient car
  • hottboxxx.com
  • home theatre cabling
  • horsecolor.com
  • flair designs christmas story paper
  • generate solid from stl
  • entrepreneurs in 2007
  • technika.com
  • 6 jaw chuck for lathe
  • russian vegtable recipe
  • costal arty corps
  • assurances complementaire sante
  • aunt judy s special offer
  • how to use shimano butterfly jigs
  • how does temperature affect solubility
  • monter.com
  • 4th of july hartford ct
  • mayfieldcollege.org
  • broan ventilation fans
  • accountants stoke
  • how a three legged switch works
  • horse vigina
  • blinking banners for myspace
  • building contractors winona missouri
  • raido achmed
  • 222 pain pills from canada
  • cedric rap francais
  • compactpci-systems.com
  • darren mcfadden stats
  • thelineupcard.com
  • palahniuk rant quotes
  • bicol epic
  • 10 facts about castles
  • breakwater high tide golden retreiver
  • aj lamar
  • catcher in the rye comprehension questions
  • interval traning
  • riverrunfilm.com
  • agriculture mutual funds
  • about bow wow
  • 10 rated dog toys
  • pfd edmonton
  • 1821 mitchell rd
  • postscript programming images
  • ocean potion deep dark
  • downloan maps for stronghold 2
  • audio teachings on the prophetic office
  • camera lens adapters for finepix s7000
  • customized ms-word 2003 toolbar disappearing
  • auditing groupwise emails sent
  • 4 connector rca
  • ericson 30 pasadena
  • key sap workflow elements
  • bus stop benches
  • grandparenting.org
  • pool of radiance maps
  • cherie franklin
  • ambit wireless modem configuration
  • john inman are you being served
  • kettle moraine lutheran chargers
  • chicken spaghetti archives
  • canton marketplace
  • a jedi outcast tattoo
  • eta 2472 winding problem
  • drunk and passed out rd drunk
  • 392 hemi interchange
  • economic costs of oil spills
  • don ramey sculptor
  • bomb threat at chicago ohare
  • miscellaneous barn painesville
  • city series cardinals custom fitted mlb
  • suite life zack and cody wallpaper
  • shorter alabama casinos
  • anthony wilbur port byron
  • zara advertising compaign
  • dena ferrara
  • epreacher.org
  • alan keyes california lawsuit
  • andertons.co.uk
  • 1984 olds delta 88
  • mangrove growth characteristics
  • air force regulation leave day
  • allok avi mpeg converter review
  • burleson rental industrial
  • balloon glow ohio
  • interface between 2 pic microcontroller
  • bmw jordon e21
  • captions css
  • advertisement shelves
  • cave of the sacred light
  • lily vonnegut
  • bayfront medical center nick bollea
  • patou chien poil ras
  • 2003 nfl draft wr kevin curtis
  • cheap monday stockists sydney
  • adultnewshunter.com
  • adhd and behavior modification
  • omegaonline refer report site web
  • emuonline.edu
  • charlottesville airport to macarthur
  • mary milner
  • aetna signature administrators ppo
  • 27mt starter solenoid
  • a b quintanilla albums
  • 1998 victorias secret gallery
  • maryland-dui-lawyer.com
  • alpha and omega real estates
  • beagle breton alberta
  • 18-24 month snow suit
  • gaming in weatherford
  • alvin and the chip monks
  • intervetusa.com
  • dan fraiser royal lepage
  • anglers guide
  • enchantedspirit.org
  • fort worth texas greenbriar recreation center
  • get cena certified
  • controlling a simple dc motor
  • native american orphans
  • airwick citrus refill
  • 24x 85 camera lens
  • burrito union
  • bespoke development
  • backstreet boys lie
  • ldisd.net
  • de tolosa ranch apartments slo
  • alexander fullerton bibliography
  • for rent governors square apartments sacramento
  • enculadas.info
  • 129 lynn drive portsmouth va 23707
  • drag queens talk about their vaginas
  • theedgewatermotorinn.com
  • free download mp4 player nokia n70
  • ca shake up emergency drill
  • 3 peice teak furniture
  • gatorade effective commercials
  • dxmstories.com
  • california framing tool pouches
  • activated carbon buy
  • dr josef mangele
  • elfen lied ova special english dub
  • .17 fireball ammo uk
  • 1986 goldwing
  • case for sbs 2003 server
  • bruce carter watertown sd
  • hillsong inside out
  • bobs automatic actions
  • 10 funny facts about new york
  • district court oregon morales mendoza sentencing
  • dyeing yellows
  • austin kincaid office video
  • aquariums
  • liverpool uefa cup
  • cheapest novelty torch lighters online
  • arthurs seat mornington peninsula
  • blueberry pie recipe sugar topped crust
  • geller tx-500 cash mashine
  • broncodriver.com
  • eliminate belly fat
  • devin dawkins fairbanks alaska
  • sicilian dragon yugoslav defense
  • glacial movement lassen proof
  • blythe metz photos
  • beijing cardboard
  • mineola oranges
  • 3m vinyl decal sheets
  • decorated cookies with fondant
  • leaning tower pisa photographs
  • black iron oxide
  • tbmhardwoods.com
  • 1942 chev trucks
  • top-celebrity-sex.com
  • casey coleman dog paws embrodery shirt
  • emarat petrol united arab emirates
  • download free xvid codec
  • lowedealercenter.net
  • jaclyn cannaday
  • kenne bell superchargers
  • 1-1 2 flexible cover binder
  • artstuff.com
  • bike pulling trailer
  • 15 student chair
  • doctor of neurology louisville kentucky ky
  • rensselaer county historical society troy ny
  • casula remax estate
  • cheap copiers philippines rent
  • anderson merchandisers lp
  • blanchard logistics spares
  • 1996 audi a4 2.8 exhaust
  • angelsbysharae.com
  • allis chalmbers screen saver
  • online storefront solutions
  • excel opens inside explorer
  • graylinelasvegas.com
  • 4 star generals bf2
  • hp dvd burner with lightscribe
  • corvetteforums.com
  • four points sheraton leominster ma
  • demarini phenix fastpitch bat 10
  • complementary cle teleconference
  • gianna humphrey
  • acura concept car
  • complimentary hobie
  • absolute beginner php tutorials
  • ancrum jethro benton navy record
  • jed forest rfc
  • bell hudson greene
  • free download lucinda handwriting
  • chilled creamy watermelon soup chicken broth
  • listt of companies needing speakers
  • 25th wedding anniversary details
  • 1 government policy
  • tna feast or fired results
  • douglas malvern hudgins
  • asheboro randolph hospital
  • samsonblinded.org
  • fire retardant japan
  • abercrombie and fitch history
  • charitonvet.com
  • 6 levels of moral development
  • ang kalagayang pampulitika ni marcos
  • clocks timers
  • alaska lodge for sale
  • dogfessions.com
  • 1609 football in england
  • globtrotters rainy day bells
  • 32606 mitchell ave mission v2v avenue
  • haier convection and rotisserie oven
  • automotive finance corp randy miller
  • adopt retired dogs
  • back to school candy bar wrapper
  • atomic hifi
  • reddingcentral.com
  • kein liebeslied f r dich
  • 08 democtratic presidential candidate plans
  • al diablo con los guapos online
  • disneypictures.com
  • blue cross insurance list of dentists
  • texasep.org
  • 10 deadliest spiders
  • different kinds of eczema
  • access macro visible
  • drying an lpg refinery stream
  • ccaf counterfeit diploma
  • 2008 college football ap poll
  • mandalay bay casino las vegas nv
  • aground in mexican water
  • robby benson said
  • 2004 usa olympic volleyball team
  • benning mwr
  • bill cunningham fight
  • dead silence dvd
  • la rams all time recievers
  • universalelectricvehicle.com
  • nokia 6085 screen display brightness
  • acts retreats
  • 2005 adams middle school kentucky yearbook
  • gaymoviesandpics.com
  • baby rasta y gringo
  • welcomehomeowner.com
  • accounting procedures for asset-backed securities
  • extremely hot babes
  • quadratic discriminant function
  • adjustable modern pendant lights
  • wilco impossible sky
  • d h cup saucer
  • clarksburg darnestown germantown md realty mls
  • paint sherwin williams
  • business hbr start process yuiko documentation
  • board trough
  • girl in court after testicle asalt
  • cinco ranch dentists
  • coveralls flying mens cwu-1 p usaf
  • 5 main religions
  • atlanta cabinet resale
  • 1 dbi gain radiation pattern
  • above elbow prosthesis harnessing
  • austin ventures
  • dek hockey farmingdale long island
  • after christmas specials and walmart
  • 2002 four winds chateau 26q
  • 3d pacman for gameboy advance
  • britney spears comeback concert
  • male bodywork
  • 20th anniversary the lost boys
  • durango.com
  • 47874 rosedale in
  • cleaning muzzleloader
  • anniston alabama base joc
  • bhp events bristol
  • crested vertigo
  • american legion 11th district virginia
  • floralimages.co.uk
  • 18th century kitchen island lighting
  • aladsites.net
  • elke somers
  • affidavit of aires
  • disadvantage of socialism
  • miniature pinscher adoptions
  • active cal 12 plastic hull
  • calvin aldridge
  • cheap mountain stays north carolina
  • bernardo sandals
  • body glove for motorola razr v3
  • bill thompson shoreline wa
  • lumberjack song python
  • barack for president
  • 2005 hoyt catalog archery talk
  • habitatnow.com
  • addicted doctors
  • primesteakhouses.com
  • animal lifeline checks
  • congregational bible church hershey pennsylvania
  • aap infant growth chart
  • dos victorias elias mora
  • apple ipod hi fi
  • aaron michael harris
  • honeycomb beat
  • imformation about spy books
  • 1066 picture gallery
  • 1941 reactivation orders military retired officer
  • how to treat a torn muscle
  • 3m 2216 epoxy
  • 3rd party quick cam drivers
  • simplyfavors.com
  • cpm 10v knife
  • alexandria animal shelters eisenhower avenue
  • mississippi plantations
  • anita armani
  • bra polly
  • bessie appel
  • harlingen afb aviation cadets
  • buttock cleavage
  • anson county nc gis
  • cops
  • virginiagolf.com
  • anguilla car hire
  • asiento de p nel en cascada
  • chineses transitional dress
  • cramp twins episodes
  • age of the aquarius
  • e muller print
  • brit ekland wicker man video
  • dean dobson
  • duran and recuriting
  • jules verne mysterious island
  • benefits of robots
  • free suze randall
  • absolute packaging
  • boom de ya da lyrics
  • add dogpile icon to desktop
  • castlevania dracula x psp save
  • doreen tracey in gallery magazine
  • 100 larget majority employee-owned companies
  • fuzzibunzstore.com
  • farm stays nsw
  • themanufacturingguide.net
  • docks goleta ca
  • atv4kids.com
  • master toddy muay thai
  • convenience store financing
  • brahma and shiva
  • download song daru pi ke
  • democracy in america sparknotes
  • defending champ car world series champion
  • ethan allan french country furniture
  • bush mccain kiss
  • boiling egs
  • a streetcar named desire quotes mortality
  • advanced net detective plus
  • pressing glass
  • info about volcanos
  • buy jenny craig food
  • canadian firefighting associations firehall com
  • mon-chalet.com
  • 3 non metallic conduit
  • wolfsongalaska.org
  • debbie washburn
  • theultralightplace.com
  • dymo laminator
  • big weight loser updates
  • 10019 big view austin tx
  • hight of the nemisis alton towers
  • bishop hague
  • cat wall platforms
  • durafirm inks
  • cio qualifications
  • benefits of shareholder value