Overview
A haunting portrayal of humanity's darkest moments during wartime.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- mournful
- austere
- serious historical viewing
- war film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a masterful, harrowing, and visually striking chronicle of the Nanjing Massacre, praised for its nuance toward both victims and perpetrators.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film is shot in black and white and repeatedly contrasts intimate faces with Nanjing's ruined urban scale.
The story follows Chinese civilians and soldiers alongside Japanese personnel, including Kadokawa, while also observing the Security Zone.
The film frames the Nanjing atrocities through personal gestures, testimony-like encounters, and the presence of people attempting to protect or comprehend victims.
Much of the civilian experience centers on inhabitants taking refuge in Nanjing's International Security Zone.
Films like City of Life and Death, and why
The Pianist
historical war drama confronting mass violence through intimate civilian and soldier perspectives
Schindler's List
unflinching black-and-white war drama centered on civilian suffering and moral witnessing
Come and See
harrowing historical atrocity drama combining large-scale conflict with personal ethical choices
Son of Saul
somber, visually composed war film examining perpetrators and victims with emotional gravity
Movie Details
- Director
- Lu Chuan
- Release Date
- 2009-04-22
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (249)
Cast
- Liu Ye
- Gao Yuanyuan
- Hideo Nakaizumi
- John Paisley
- Beverly Peckous
- Fan Wei
- Qin Lan
- Ryu Kohata
- Jiang Yiyan
- Yao Di
Common questions
- What is City of Life and Death about?
- A stark black-and-white account of Nanjing's 1937 devastation that finds fragile humanity amid occupation, massacre, and moral catastrophe.
- What is City of Life and Death like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of City of Life and Death as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is City of Life and Death violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in City of Life and Death as graphic.
- What did critics think of City of Life and Death?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a masterful, harrowing, and visually striking chronicle of the Nanjing Massacre, praised for its nuance toward both victims and perpetrators.
- Which films are like City of Life and Death?
- Films with a similar feel include The Pianist, Schindler's List, Come and See, and Son of Saul.
- How long is City of Life and Death?
- City of Life and Death runs 132 minutes.
