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      John Rabe

      Released May 21, 2010 2 hr. 14 min. Biography History Drama War List
      75% 36 Reviews Tomatometer 74% 500+ Ratings Audience Score A German businessman (Ulrich Tukur) opens his company gates and saves thousands of Chinese civilians from Japanese invaders during the 1937 Nanking Massacre. Read More Read Less
      John Rabe

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      Critics Consensus

      Though it strays into predictable melodrama, John Rabe is worth watching for the light it shines on a neglected corner of Chinese history.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member A well structured and historically shocking film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member John Rabe, The Good Nazi of Nanking. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member It may look like "Schindler's list" set in China, but the context of the story is very different. John Rabe (very well played by Ulrich Tukur) tries to help and save the vulnerable Chinese workers at the Siemens premises that he is running, in the city of Nanking, during the Japanese invasion of China in 1937. In general, the movie is a very well directed and produced (the art direction is very good) period War drama. Steve Buscemi, as the desperate American doctor trying to do his job under so stressful circumstances is great, and Daniel Bruehl, as a young diplomat, offers a very decent performance. The portrayal of this cruel episode in Chinese History, known as the "Nanking Massacre", is harrowing and grim, but my only problem is having wanted to see something more than cruel and ruthless Japanese soldiers. There's one young Japanese officer wanting to show some humanity inside him, but unfortunately the screenplay is so dense of characters and subplots, that there's not a chance to develop himself as a character. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A lot of war movies glamorize the events for the public to like and obsess about, this one had so much actual war footage that reminded you how chaotic, graphic and extreme it actually looks. Great movie about the doings of a true hero. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Sterk waargebeurd verhaal dat een beetje doet denken aan Schindlers List. Aanrader!. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member I like the World War II films that cover the stuff everyone knows, but I'm stating to get even more appreciative of the ones that bring the lesser known parts to a wider audience. What we get here is the story of John Rabe who was essentially the Oskar Schindler of China. This film is a look at German Industrialist John Rabe who lived and worked in China, and was one of the key players who established a safety zone for the locals during the occupation of China by the ruthless Japanese Imperial Army. The event is often (unflatteringly) referred to as "The Rape of Nanking". What this docudrama depicts is how Rabe goes from Nazi Party member to savior due to his efforts to provide sanctuary for the oppressed locals. Joining him in his efforts were other Westerners, with the highlight being American Dr. Robert Wilson- a very dedicated and compassionate doctor not afraid to speak his mind and call out Rabe for his flaws and motivations. In this film Wilson is played by Steve Buscemi, and, while I think Ulrich Tukur was fine as Rabe, I think Buscemi gives a better performance, and that the film should have been more about him. That's not just because Buscemi is my favorite actor. His character is just more interesting, developed, and compelling. But Rabe is still a fascinating person, even if the film doesn't do with him what it should, especially since he is the lead here. The period details are great, the film has a nice balance with showing the atrocities without going overboard or sugar coating it, and, more importantly, it brings to life an important part of history that more people need to know about. Yeah the script could be better written, the pacing and structure a little tighter, and the importance of the story made more apparent, but overall, the film does just enough right to merit a slightly more than meager recommendation. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      J. R. Jones Chicago Reader ...rather stodgy but still affecting historical drama... Aug 10, 2022 Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post It is a tale of a true hero, even if in its minor details it's less than entirely true. For a movie with ambitions as big as "John Rabe," that doesn't just make it good. That makes it epic. Rated: 3/4 Sep 17, 2010 Full Review Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor Thanks to Tukur, what we get here is still something: a stunning portrait of a good man caught in a widening inferno. Rated: B Jun 18, 2010 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) This is a factual biography without hagiographic anointing. [Full review in Spanish] Oct 11, 2022 Full Review Ard Vijn ScreenAnarchy Given the subject matter of "John Rabe" I expected a bit more than a typical Milos Forman-esque preaching biopic. Jan 15, 2020 Full Review Laura Hiros Rincón de cine An impressive film, with a careful and emotive story... [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 4/5 Mar 21, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A German businessman (Ulrich Tukur) opens his company gates and saves thousands of Chinese civilians from Japanese invaders during the 1937 Nanking Massacre.
      Director
      Florian Gallenberger
      Executive Producer
      Mathias Schwerbrock
      Screenwriter
      Florian Gallenberger
      Distributor
      Strand Releasing
      Production Co
      Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment, Pampa Production, H&V Entertainment, Majestic Filmproduktion, EOS Entertainment, ZDF
      Genre
      Biography, History, Drama, War
      Original Language
      Chinese
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 21, 2010, Limited
      Release Date (DVD)
      Aug 17, 2010
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $67.3K