I saw City of Life and Death while I was on a trip to Beijing, China. I have read Iris Chang's book and consider myself pretty familiar with the issue here. Obviously, this movie deals with a sensitive subject to both China and Japan. It was highly prompted by official CCTV and local newspapers in Beijing. I saw group of organized school children in my theater. Cornsidering the violent level of the movie, that surprised me a lot. China should consider a rating system similar to the west.
Back to the movie, the director was trying to make a epic using a small budget.That shows on the screen. The city comprised of only one street, one refugee camp and one church. Thus the setting is hardly qualified as a city.
The cinematography is the relatively bright spot in the movie, though hardly original.The director keeps pounding the audience using heavy images to the level I think is overdone. Several years ago,Jiang wen, a famous Chinese director, used similar visual style in his Cannes award-winning movie "The devils at the doorsteps" in a much effective way. I guess that's one reason Gilles Jacob ignored Nanjing Nanjing in this year's selection.
I have to point out the ritual dance by the Japanese army looks bizarre to me. I have never seen such things in Japan myself. I talked to my Japanese friends about it. They all laughed at such idea. I'm afraid missed details like this will hardly bridge the cultural gaps of the two nations.
If you are interested in the subject, Go get Jiang Wen 's "The devils at the doorsteps".
Back to the movie, the director was trying to make a epic using a small budget.That shows on the screen. The city comprised of only one street, one refugee camp and one church. Thus the setting is hardly qualified as a city.
The cinematography is the relatively bright spot in the movie, though hardly original.The director keeps pounding the audience using heavy images to the level I think is overdone. Several years ago,Jiang wen, a famous Chinese director, used similar visual style in his Cannes award-winning movie "The devils at the doorsteps" in a much effective way. I guess that's one reason Gilles Jacob ignored Nanjing Nanjing in this year's selection.
I have to point out the ritual dance by the Japanese army looks bizarre to me. I have never seen such things in Japan myself. I talked to my Japanese friends about it. They all laughed at such idea. I'm afraid missed details like this will hardly bridge the cultural gaps of the two nations.
If you are interested in the subject, Go get Jiang Wen 's "The devils at the doorsteps".