City of Life and Death 15

"Possibly the war film of the year, Lu Chuan’s picture about the Rape of Nanking has a lacerating immediacy and a true artist’s gravity and tact."
The Telegraph

"Passionate and expertly crafted, this black-and-white opus is well worth seeking out."
Empire Magazine

In December 1937 the Japanese captured the Chinese capital Nanking, unleashing weeks of rape and murder upon the city's population. It is estimated that 300,000 died in the slaughter and the atrocity continues to sour the relationship between the two countries. Director Lu Chuan takes an uncompromising view of the massacre but faced controversy in China with its portrayal of some Japanese characters.