Nanjing 1937

In December 1937, during the Second Japanese-Sino War, a Chinese doctor, his Japanese pregnant wife, their teenage daughter and their young son travel from Shanghai to Nanjing seeking shelter in the Capital during the Japanese invasion. The family faces the Rape of Nanking by the Imperial Japanese Army, with rapes, mass murder of prisoners of war and civilians including women, children and elders, and disrespect of international conventions.

"Nanjing 1937" is one of the most realistic films of a dirty war unknown for Westerners, the "Nanjing Massacre", a.k.a. the Rape of Nanking and produced by John Woo. The direction of Ziniu Wu is impressive and gives the sensation of a documentary to the viewer. Unfortunately this film has been released only on VHS in Brazil. I saw this great film for the first time on 14 March 2000 and today I have seen it again. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Tempos de Guerra" ("Times of War")

This is one of the only movies (non-documentary) that has ever been made of the Rape of Nanjing, among the worst atrocities to have been committed in World War II. The film is from the viewpoint of a family with a Chinese father and Japanese mother, which proves ironic. The Japanese army swarms into the city, and begins indiscriminate slaughter, torture, and rape of the civilians and surrendered soldiers. After ruining the city, they turn their attention to the Safety Zone of Nanjing, which was set up by the Red Cross and other international organizations, that was supposed to be a safe area for civilians, and go on a rampage. The film also depicts the foreigners that were there to help the civilians, and their desperate efforts to stop the savagery. Most of this film is historically based, and the film captures just some of the atrocities that actually occurred. This film is excellent for those wanting to understand what happened in Nanjing at the hands of the Japanese military told through one fictional family's experience.

This film is about the Rape of Nanjing, and it is not related to the book written by Iris Chang, but it is just equally good.

What needs to be given a credit here is that the efforts of foreigners who tried to help Nanjing residents was properly shown and appreciated. I strongly recommend the audience to read the book titled the Rape of Nanjing by Iris Chang for more detailed description.

"Nanking 1937" is a historical fiction centering around a family and their experience during the siege and fall of Nanking, and the subsequent atrocities committed by the occupying Japanese troops. The family is in particular danger since the father (Chen-xian) is a Chinese doctor, and his wife Rieko is Japanese. They each have a child and Rieko is pregnant.

I thought the story was excellent. Because the family is mixed Chinese/Japanese, the dangers, hostilities and racism on both sides are illuminated. Most of the acting is quite good too, especially the leading actors who play Chen-xian and Rieko.

Don't expect the very best in special effects, but having said that the sets of blown out buildings and rubble strewn streets, tanks and trucks used, and other props are quite good and add realism. Notably, the panoramic scenes use hundreds of extras to portray the magnitude of this human disaster.

"Nanking 1937" is not for the squeamish... know what you are getting into. The Rape of Nanking is one of the lowest points of humanity in the 20th century and this film shows it all, from the men marched out of the city for mass executions to wholesale rape of women. It is as disturbing to watch as Schindler's List.

The film succeeds in portraying the scale of this atrocity, demonstrating the insanity of war and even shows there can be moments when humanity is uplifted in the midst of it all. I recommend it for those who want to see a film interpretation of this dark chapter of history.