City of Life and Death

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City of Life and Death

2009

2h 13m

History

Drama

War

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92%

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53 Reviews

86%

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2,500+ Ratings

The stories of a conflicted Japanese soldier (Hideo Nakaizumi) and a Chinese officer (Ye Liu) draw attention to the atrocities committed by Japanese forces during the 1937 occupation of Nanking.

Tom Long

Detroit News

It is not an easy film, and perhaps a touch too relentless, but it is a great reminder of how bloody, mad and awful this world can be.

Rated: A-

Oct 7, 2011

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David Lewis

San Francisco Chronicle

Lu Chuan makes this feature film soar by telling the story both through the eyes of the Japanese occupiers and the defenseless Chinese civilians in the ancient capital. It makes the savagery all the more senseless.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 22, 2011

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Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Exquisitely shot in black and white, with a rare attention to detail and dramatic complexity, "City of Life and Death" is a timelessly great film that commands our collective attention.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 8, 2011

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Great effort and care has gone into recreating what is known as the Rape of Nanking.

Mar 4, 2021

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Ard Vijn

ScreenAnarchy

Although it is not overtly gory, the film is powerfully shocking at times, and not for the squeamish. Those squeamish are missing something though... this movie is definitely recommended.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 23, 2019

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Shot in striking black and white, the film almost feels like a living war document, with a haunting immediacy and authenticity that seems completely organic.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 5, 2019

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Bogdan M

From my perspective, "City of Life and Death" is a profoundly challenging film to watch. It's a raw and unflinching portrayal of a period in history filled with unimaginable horrors. The scenes are difficult to witness, as they force me to confront the atrocities of war and the suffering endured by countless individuals. This film isn't just hard to see; it's emotionally taxing, leaving me deeply affected as I grapple with the weight of the events depicted. "City of Life and Death" serves as a stark reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the importance of remembering the past to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

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Gabby B

Excellent movie. Good acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/23

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Soegiarto M

Where is the movie? I cant see the movie..

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/30/23

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Liam D

This is a powerful war drama that should be watch if you can make it through the dark story and long running time

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/16/22

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jorge g

Ιnevitably gory and dark, depicts the cruelty and humanity that people are capable of showing to each other. Powerful story, excellent performances and production. Masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Best movie I've ever watch. Historically accurate, as well as unbiased.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Chuan Lu

Director

Ye Liu

Lu Jianxiong

Yuanyuan Gao

Miss Jiang

Hideo Nakaizumi

Kadokawa

Yuko Miyamoto

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Synopsis

The stories of a conflicted Japanese soldier (Hideo Nakaizumi) and a Chinese officer (Ye Liu) draw attention to the atrocities committed by Japanese forces during the 1937 occupation of Nanking.

Director: Chuan Lu
Producer: Sanping Han
Screenwriter: Chuan Lu
Production Co: China Film Group Corp., Media Asia Films Ltd. [hk]
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 17, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $119.9K
Runtime: 2h 13m