KoalaMug

I had never heard of the author and only heard of the Nanking massacre after watching "Men behind the Sun" (a movie about the horrors the Japanese committed in Unit 731) bc the same director made a movie about it.

This documentary is just as heartbreaking in a more subtle way. Not only did the author take her life but the witnesses testimony interlaced with footage are heartbreaking.

I suggest that you watch the documentary and don't listen to the negative reviews. The movie is called Rape of Nanking and that is the main focus and how the author got involved with the story and how the "forgotten" violence consumed and changed her. Also her widower and her parents are interviewed.

I have to admit the first time the cheesy song came one I fast forwarded, later on it the lyrics made it easier to bear the horrors of the nauseating savagery. There is a reason we don't "remember", and Iris made it her mission to cut through the mainstreamed silence.

Usually, Hallmark movies are little less bad when they get better-known actors / actresses to sign up.

Not in this case, unfortunately.

If I didn't know some of the other work by the actress who's playing the main character I would not believe she is good at her job.

And what's with her makeup and her weird facial expressions?

I recognized her by her voice.

Why would anyone want to make a movie without trying to get the best out of the cast?

My guess is she either needed money quickly or lost a bet and was forced to do this movie.

I'm typing this while I watch.

The storyline is run-of-the-mill bland, full of dumb stereotypes, cheap tropes and conservative propaganda as to be expected from Hallmark and its clones.