This is a deco-histroic movie about the Rape of Nanjinj During the Japanese invasion of China in 1937.
This has a multifaceted plot concerning several Japanese soldiers, Chinese civilians, and John Rabe.
The film was made by Lu Chuan (Chinese director) and was released in 2009 after two years of filming and 'editing'.
Due to the subject matter, the Chinese censors thought a couple of scenes were just a little bit too 'intense' for the general public so they were removed. These scenes included the act of beheading a prisoner.
I find the film to be a mash of the films 'Schindlers List' and 'Saving Private Ryan' for its presentation. The only gripe I have is that the subtitles are off so they appear a couple of seconds after the actor speaks.
I give it 8 of 10 for being such a good movie.
I also give it a rated 'Mature R' for adult content.
I know such films are an important documentation of history and are necessary and right. However, I can hardly stand to watch them anymore. It's just too gut wretching . As a historian, I am well aware of man's inhumanity to man, but it's hard to take a constant diet of it. Maybe that's the coward's way out, but it's a bit much for me anymore.
At any rate, thanks for sharing, Raz.
-------------- "Too often I have met men who speak only of how many miles they've traveled and not of what they've seen." - Louis L'Amour
I know such films are an important documentation of history and are necessary and right. However, I can hardly stand to watch them anymore. It's just too gut wretching . As a historian, I am well aware of man's inhumanity to man, but it's hard to take a constant diet of it. Maybe that's the coward's way out, but it's a bit much for me anymore.
At any rate, thanks for sharing, Raz.
I fully understand what you are saying and respect that.
I posted this just because I enjoyed the movie, not for the subject matter but for how well it was made.
Granted the topic may not be what I would call 'family' material, it does give us a some kind of understanding on what happened during those six weeks in that city. Although, with a little bit of movie flair.
But if you ever change your mind, you can find the movie on netflix.
I know such films are an important documentation of history and are necessary and right. However, I can hardly stand to watch them anymore. It's just too gut wretching . As a historian, I am well aware of man's inhumanity to man, but it's hard to take a constant diet of it. Maybe that's the coward's way out, but it's a bit much for me anymore.
At any rate, thanks for sharing, Raz.
I agree Jer... I think the more gray one gets, the more of the world one has seen, the more wearying it is.
Life is cumulative... and not all for the best.
-------------- Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty. – Socrates
I was there 50 years later for the anniversary in 1987. It was interesting to see the memories and pain blended with some serious healing efforts. Sometimes remembering the cumulative lessons does point you in a better direction.
A different era, different city, but I just finished a book called "the Almond Tree" about Palestine/gaza from an Arab experience. A lot of inhumanity to Man in it but a lot of hope too
-------------- If Light is in your heart, you will find your way Home. (Rumi)
The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth. Chinese proverb
Adding salt to the wound is Japanese official insistence that "it didn't happen".
Not all of Japan of course, there are always idiots who make those claims, the holocaust didn't happen or Sandy Hook was staged.
Here, a Japanese Pilot bombed the hills with an incendiary bomb and years later felt so badly that he gave his families 400 year old samurai sword to the city and came to be parade Marshall. His hometown in Japan and Brookings, OR are now sister cities. True there were no crimes against humanity in this case. In fact the idea of fire bombing the "asphalt forest" is a bit laughable, but the idea that enemies don't have to stay enemies is vital
-------------- If Light is in your heart, you will find your way Home. (Rumi)
The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth. Chinese proverb
Adding salt to the wound is Japanese official insistence that "it didn't happen".
Not all of Japan of course, there are always idiots who make those claims, the holocaust didn't happen or Sandy Hook was staged.
Here, a Japanese Pilot bombed the hills with an incendiary bomb and years later felt so badly that he gave his families 400 year old samurai sword to the city and came to be parade Marshall. His hometown in Japan and Brookings, OR are now sister cities. True there were no crimes against humanity in this case. In fact the idea of fire bombing the "asphalt forest" is a bit laughable, but the idea that enemies don't have to stay enemies is vital
There are many Japanese citizens who acknowledge the massacres in Nanjing. So a bunch of idiots believing otherwise wouldn't really matter. And yet, it is actually an official Japanese policy stance that the "rape of Nanjing" never happened!! So no mention of it in their textbooks either. Imagine German textbooks intentionally omitting Auswitz in their chapters dealing with WWII. Infuriating. Insulting. Sad.
-------------- The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
