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John Rabe

  • 2009
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
6.9K
YOUR RATING
John Rabe (2009)
A true-story account of a German businessman who saved more than 200,000 Chinese during the Nanjing massacre in 1937-38.
Play trailer2:08
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistoryWar

A true-story account of a German businessman who saved more than 200,000 Chinese during the Nanjing massacre in 1937-38.A true-story account of a German businessman who saved more than 200,000 Chinese during the Nanjing massacre in 1937-38.A true-story account of a German businessman who saved more than 200,000 Chinese during the Nanjing massacre in 1937-38.

  • Director
    • Florian Gallenberger
  • Writers
    • Florian Gallenberger
    • John Rabe
    • Erwin Wickert
  • Stars
    • Ulrich Tukur
    • Daniel Brühl
    • Steve Buscemi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    6.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Florian Gallenberger
    • Writers
      • Florian Gallenberger
      • John Rabe
      • Erwin Wickert
    • Stars
      • Ulrich Tukur
      • Daniel Brühl
      • Steve Buscemi
    • 27User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    John Rabe
    Trailer 2:08
    John Rabe

    Photos114

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    Top cast51

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    Ulrich Tukur
    Ulrich Tukur
    • John Rabe
    Daniel Brühl
    Daniel Brühl
    • Dr. Georg Rosen
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Dr. Robert Wilson
    Anne Consigny
    Anne Consigny
    • Valérie Dupres
    Dagmar Manzel
    • Dora Rabe
    Jingchu Zhang
    Jingchu Zhang
    • Langshu
    Teruyuki Kagawa
    Teruyuki Kagawa
    • Prince Asaka Yasuhiko
    Mathias Herrmann
    • Werner Fließ
    Tetta Sugimoto
    • Col. Nakajima Kesago
    Akira Emoto
    • Gen. Matsui Iwane
    Arata Iura
    • Major Ose
    • (as Arata)
    Shaun Lawton
    • John Magee
    Christian Rodska
    Christian Rodska
    • Lewis Smythe
    Gottfried John
    Gottfried John
    • Dr. Oskar Trautmann
    Yu Fang
    • Han
    Ming Li
    • Chang
    Dong Fu Lin
    • Chiang Kai-Shek
    Togo Igawa
    Togo Igawa
    • Fukuda Tokuyasu
    • Director
      • Florian Gallenberger
    • Writers
      • Florian Gallenberger
      • John Rabe
      • Erwin Wickert
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    7.26.8K
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    Featured reviews

    8Radu_A

    Some explanation about the reception...

    ... essentially all has been said, but some reviews criticize the diversions from the original story. These would seem to have something to do with Chinese censorship following concerns about economic cooperation with Japan. That may explain the sometimes disjointed story structure, and the inclusion of a 'good' Japanese officer warning the Germans about imminent danger to the safety zone, while there is still ample display of Japanese brutality - even though, if you ever visited the memorial in Nanjing itself, you'll find these rather tame in comparison to the photos there.

    At the time of its release in Germany, reviews were largely negative because Rabe's Nazi Party membership was downplayed in the film. His naivety in regard to Hitler is portrayed (writing him letters urging Hitler to intervene on behalf of the safety zone), but this was seen as way too ambivalent. Gallenberger was criticized for making a 'big' film with Hollywood clichés. And instead of a competition slot at the Berlinale, the film was screened as a 'Special' because the festival apparently shied away from controversy. Having only seen it now for these reasons, I must say that these complaints are exaggerated. There's nothing wrong with a German director trying to make a real cinematic feature instead of an overblown TV production, as it is usually the case. And Gallenberger was certainly the right man for the job, given his previous endeavor of a German Bollywood film. Sadly, the entirely justified vilification of the Nazi regime still clouds the perception of individuals living in that era, and there's some sort of German instinct to snap at everything that could be even remotely interpreted as euphemism - which isn't the case here.

    What I really liked about the film was that it clarifies that the safety zone was an international 'joint venture' so to speak, instead of being due to the efforts of Rabe alone. Buscemi played all the right keys with his character, and still restrained his presence to allow Ulrich Tukur to take central stage. And his performance is definitely worth the BlueRay. He is one of the very few German actors with aura; Daniel Brühl, in my opinion, isn't, but he's pretty good here, as his scenes with Tukur are balanced very well.

    If you found John Rabe's story amazing, you might be interested in the even more controversial Johannes Lepsius, who was the principal witness of the Armenian Genocide during World War I - under similar circumstances, as Germany and Turkey were allies, as with the Japanese at the time of the Nanjing Massacre. I couldn't help but think of that while watching 'John Rabe' - that a film based on Lepsius would be far more controversial than this one, since Turkey denies the Armenian genocide to this day even more vehemently than Japan denies Nanjing.

    I give 'John Rabe' 8/10 because I feel this film has been treated a little harshly, but 7.5 sounds just about right.
    7Comandante666

    John Rabe

    I have just watched the movie 'John Rabe' three days ago at the Berlin International Film Festival. Fortunately the director was present and kind enough to answer some questions after the screening. Thank you for that.

    The movie itself is about the extraordinary achievements of the then director of Siemens Naking, John Rabe, who saved several thousand Chinese people during the Japanese assault on, and capture of the city in 1937/38.

    There certainly are several similarities to the case of Oscar Schindler, whose story is well documented and was made into a movie by Steven Spielberg, but those similarities are due to the story, and not because of any semblances of the two movies...

    Nevertheless, the most innovative and interesting aspect of the movie 'John Rabe' is the story, which is about this extraordinary person. The movie itself, and that's really unfortunate, is partially too declamatory and rather kitschy in some parts. Some scenes actually reminded me of sad experiences such as the movie 'Pearl Harbor'. This critique may sound a little harsh, because on the whole the movie isn't too bad, but I still think it should be mentioned.

    Now, if you are able to take some kitschy love scenes and some heroic moments, you might actually enjoy this movie and be able to discover a very interesting and less known story about the Second World War...
    8Hunky Stud

    Everyone should watch this excellent movie.

    Many people knew about the Holocaust happened in Europe, but so few people knew about the massacre happened in Nanjing - capital city of Republic of China.

    This is an excellent movie, too bad, it wasn't shown at many movie theaters in the USA. This could help people to know what the Japanese did to defenseless Chinese people during world war ii. The scenes are shocking and graphic, but that is what the Japanese soldiers did.

    Even today, some Japanese still refuse to believe the appalling atrocities. This is an excellent movie for the event. Even though John Rabe was a Nazi member, but what he did he in Nanjing was heroic. He could be given the Nobel peace prize for saving over 20,000 innocent Chinese people.

    This film is truly an international collaboration from actors all over the world just like those people who saved so many people in 1937. I highly recommend it.
    8murray-morison

    An unsung hero

    This is the second film about the Nanking (Nanjing) massacre of 1937, to come out recently. Both feature a man whose bravery saved many thousands of lives and who was largely unknown to the wider world until very recently. John Rabe was a member of the Nazi party and had worked in Nanking as the senior executive for Siemens for many years. In the eponymous film it's suggested that he is about to return to Germany, but his departure is prevented by the sudden attack with over-powering military force, by the Japanese.

    Rabe stays, and heads a committee that sets up a safety zone around the Siemens works and the main embassies. When the Japanese take Nanking, and embark on wholesale rape and slaughter, this zone keeps more than 200,000 Chinese in greater safety that elsewhere in the city.

    The story is seen through Rabe's eyes mainly and focuses more on Westerners than the Japanese, although the dire impact of a member of the Imperial Family on the decisions made by the Japanese to execute unarmed soldiers, is highlighted .

    Some beheadings are shown but the wide scale practice of rape and enforced prostitution is skirted around. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of menace, instant arbitrary death and fanaticism is established effectively.

    The film grips and, in its own way, inspires. It is interesting to see this film and the more symbolic approach taken by Chuan Lu in 'City of Life and Death'. Both cover the same time period. Both are films that leave you pondering on human nature, its heights and its gross distortions.
    7kosmasp

    German Schindler

    John Rabe is a person that actually existed and this is a (bit of a) fictionalized version of what he and the people he were trusted on, had to go through. Now this is the German version of that story. There is another side to that coin. And that other side is called "City of Life and Death" and is made from the Chinese perspective. So I guess the truth is somewhere in-between.

    But this fairly good made and has a strong character (actor) in the midst of it all. The story is really touching and involves a lot of bad things happening. But as written above, you will have sides that you will choose, whom you like and whom you don't. What it does have over the Chinese "version", is a main character you can hold onto.

    I'd suggest you watch both movies in a double feature to get the whole package.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Several Japanese actors when approached immediately turned down any suggestion about appearing in the film. The Nanking massacre still touches a raw nerve in Japan today and for some Japanese actors the thought of appearing in a film about it was beyond comprehension.
    • Goofs
      The USS Panay is shown as a passenger ship when she was in fact a U.S. Navy River Gunboat. The movie shows the Panay being attacked within sight of Nanking (now known as Nanjing) but in reality it had moved 28 miles upriver and dropped anchor, along with three Standard Oil tankers. The attack lasted for 2.5 hours until the ship finally sunk. The attack left 3 sailors dead, 43 sailors and 5 civilians wounded.
    • Quotes

      Prince Asaka Yasuhiko: Congratulations, Major. You'll make an excellent commander one day. But I ask myself, why is it that I give orders not to take prisoners, and you arrive with thousands?

      Major Ose: Please forgive me.

      Japanese Officer: Your Highness.

      Prince Asaka Yasuhiko: I didn't ask you to speak!

      [Japanese officer steps back and bows]

      Prince Asaka Yasuhiko: So, Major. What do you propose?

      Major Ose: Your Highness. It would be extremely difficult to execute that many prisoners.

      Prince Asaka Yasuhiko: Is that so?

      Major Ose: Furthermore, I believe such executions could be considered to be illegal.

      Prince Asaka Yasuhiko: Illegal? I am entrusting you personally with resolving this matter once and for all. I want no prisoner alive by tomorrow morning. We will also shell the city center. Nanking must experience the superiority of our troops.

    • Alternate versions
      German TV version features ca. 45 minutes of additional footage.
    • Soundtracks
      Deutschlandlied
      Written by Joseph Haydn

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 27, 2011 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • China
      • Germany
      • Austria
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Belgium
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (France)
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • Mandarin
      • German
      • Japanese
      • English
      • Ukrainian
    • Also known as
      • City of War: The Story of John Rabe
    • Filming locations
      • Nanking, China
    • Production companies
      • Odeon Fiction
      • EOS Entertainment
      • Majestic Filmproduktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $67,519
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,892
      • May 23, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,484,665
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 14m(134 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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