15 May 2012

City of Life and Death (China, 2009)

Set in 1937, shortly after the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, capital of the Republic of China. What followed is historically known as the Nanjing Massacre, a period of several weeks wherein massive numbers of Chinese prisoners of war and civilians were killed.

One of the best historical epics ever made. It's a horrifying and brutal portrayal of one of the darkest pages in human history, where almost 300,000 lives were taken. Director Lu Chuan is a master behind the camera and doesn't leave a single detail out, making it a more effective and violent experience. It's definitely reminiscent of Schindler's List (1993), with shockingly violent scenes, being filmed in black-and-white and also based on true events. An unforgettable masterpiece about the cruelty mankind is capable of.

Genre: Drama/History/War

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