City of Life and Death

City of Life and Death
Name	City of Life and Death
Director	Lu Chuan
Producer	Han Sanping, John Chong
Writer	Lu Chuan
Starring	Liu Ye, Gao Yuanyuan, Hideo Nakaizumi, Fan Wei
Music	Liu Tong
Cinematography	Cao Yu
Editing	Tu Yiran
Studio	China Film Group, Stellar Mega Films, Media Asia Films
Released	2009
Runtime	132 minutes
Country	China
Language	Mandarin, Japanese, English, German

City of Life and Death. It is a 2009 Chinese epic historical war film written and directed by Lu Chuan. The black-and-white film dramatizes the Nanking Massacre, the Battle of Nanking, and the subsequent atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It focuses on the experiences of several individuals, including a Chinese soldier, a Japanese officer, and a foreign humanitarian, within the besieged Nanjing Safety Zone.

Plot

The narrative follows the final defense of Nanjing by the National Revolutionary Army, including figures like Xiao Jianlian, against the overwhelming forces of the Imperial Japanese Army. After the city falls, the film depicts the horrific massacre and the establishment of the International Committee for the Nanjing Safety Zone led by John Rabe. Central stories include the plight of a Chinese soldier, Lu Jianxiong, the moral conflict of a Japanese officer, Kadokawa, and the efforts of a Chinese woman, Jiang Shuyun, working with the safety zone. Key events portrayed include the killing contest, mass executions at the Yangtze River, and the struggle for survival within the ruins of the city.

Cast

The ensemble cast features Liu Ye as Lu Jianxiong, a defiant Chinese soldier, and Gao Yuanyuan as Jiang Shuyun, a courageous volunteer. Japanese actor Hideo Nakaizumi portrays the conflicted Sergeant Kadokawa, while Fan Wei appears as Mr. Tang, a desperate clerk. Supporting roles include Ryu Kohata as Lieutenant Ida, Beverly Peckous as Minnie Vautrin, and John Paisley as John Rabe. The cast also features Jiang Yiyan, Liu Bin, and Qin Lan in pivotal roles depicting civilians and resistance figures caught in the atrocity.

Production

Director Lu Chuan spent over four years researching the Nanking Massacre, consulting archives like the Yale Divinity School and the Second Historical Archives of China. Filming took place in Tianjin and Chongqing, where a massive set replicating 1930s Nanjing was constructed. Cinematographer Cao Yu shot the film in stark black-and-white anamorphic format to evoke period newsreels and create a timeless, documentary-like aesthetic. The production faced significant challenges, including logistical hurdles and the emotional weight of the subject matter, with support from China Film Group and Stellar Mega Films.

Release

The film premiered in China in April 2009 and was later selected as the Chinese entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. It screened at numerous international festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival and the San Sebastián International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Shell. Its release in Japan was delayed and met with controversy, though it was eventually shown in limited venues. The film was distributed internationally by Fortissimo Films.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Golden Shell and the Asian Film Award for Best Film. Critics praised its powerful cinematography, restrained direction, and moral complexity, particularly in its portrayal of the Japanese soldier Kadokawa. However, it also sparked intense debate in China, with some critics and netizens accusing Lu Chuan of "humanizing the enemy." Historians like Iris Chang and organizations such as the Society for the Study of the Nanjing Massacre noted its visceral impact, though discussions continued regarding its historical framing.

Historical context and accuracy

The film is set during the Battle of Nanking and the subsequent Nanking Massacre, a pivotal atrocity in the Second Sino-Japanese War. It incorporates documented events such as the actions of the International Committee for the Nanjing Safety Zone, the Mukai Toshiaki killing contest, and the martyrdom of figures like Xiao Jianlian. While dramatic liberties are taken with composite characters, the depiction of widespread violence, including the systematic sexual violence, aligns with testimonies from the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and archives like the American Embassy in Nanjing. The film's perspective, showing the conflict through both Chinese and Japanese eyes, contributes to ongoing scholarly and public discourse on the memory of the massacre in relation to figures like Chiang Kai-shek and Matsui Iwane.

Category:2009 films Category:Chinese war films Category:Films about the Nanking Massacre