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City of Life and Death

City of Life and Death

20097.42h 12m

Overview

In 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, then-capital of the Republic of China. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a six week period wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.

Directed by Lu Chuan
Written by Lu Chuan
Produced by John Chong, Hong Qin, Andy Zhang
Box OfficeBudget: $12.0MRevenue: $10.7M

Top Cast

Liu Ye

Liu Ye

Lu Jianxiong

Gao Yuanyuan

Gao Yuanyuan

Miss Jiang

Hideo Nakaizumi

Hideo Nakaizumi

Kadokawa

John Paisley

John Paisley

John Rabe

Beverly Peckous

Beverly Peckous

Minnie Vautrin

Fan Wei

Fan Wei

Mr. Tang

Qin Lan

Qin Lan

Mrs. Tang

Ryu Kohata

Ryu Kohata

Officer Osamu Ida

Jiang Yiyan

Jiang Yiyan

'Xiao Jiang' Jiang Xiangjun

Yao Di

Yao Di

'May' Zhou Xiaomei

Themes & Keywords

war crimesmass murderwar victimsecond sino-japanese war (1937-45)massacrejapanese armyduringcreditsstingerimperial japannanking massacre china 19371930snanjingjapanese occupation of china

About City of Life and Death

City of Life and Death is a drama, history, war film released in 2009 exploring themes of war crimes, mass murder, war victim, second sino-japanese war (1937-45), massacre, japanese army. Directed by Lu Chuan, it stars Liu Ye, Gao Yuanyuan, Hideo Nakaizumi. In 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, then-capital of the Republic of China. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a six week period wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.

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If you enjoyed City of Life and Death, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of City of Life and Death.

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During the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, a postman poses as a photo developer, helping Japanese forces while secretly sheltering Chinese refugees. He later risks his life evacuating them and revealing evidence of the atrocities.

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Nanking(2007)

Movie7.1/10

The story of the rape of Nanking, one of the most tragic events in history. In 1937, the invading Japanese army murdered over 200,000 and raped tens of thousands of Chinese. In the midst of this horror, a small group of Western expatriates banded together to save 250,000. Nanking shows the tremendous impact individuals can make on the course of history.

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Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.

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Beginning just after the bloody Sioux victory over General Custer at Little Big Horn, the story is told through two unique perspectives: Charles Eastman, a young, white-educated Sioux doctor held up as living proof of the alleged success of assimilation, and Sitting Bull the proud Lakota chief whose tribe won the American Indians’ last major victory at Little Big Horn.

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