Beautifully shot, atmospheric, realistic and tense drama about the brutal invasion of Nanjing in 1937.

From the immense opening invasion scene this movie has a lot going for it. It really draws you in as viewers get a sense of the horrific massacre and annihilation that took place as the Imperial Japanese army captured what was then the capital of China.

The first part of the film deals with the last stand of a group of Chinese soldiers led by General Lu (Liu Ye) who refuse to surrender and leave even against what looks like insurmountable odds. By subtly switching the point of view from Japanese to Chinese soldiers makes for a disorientating view of the battle plus adds an element of suspense and uncertainty of who will survive. One of the perspectives the film offers is that of a young and innocent Japanese soldier Kadokawa (Hideo Nakaizumi). Wide eyed Kadokawa looks on in horror at the terrible goings that he finds himself implicated in. Another important perspective offered is that of the civilians living in the safety zone whose lives change dramatically from optimism to despair.

Writer and director Lu Chan does not sugar coat his dramatization of events showing scenes of extreme brutality, from cold blood executions to gang rapes of women. An estimated 300,000 Chinese soldiers were killed in the war with tens of thousands of women raped.

Shooting the film in black and white gives it an extra intensity. The film won awards for best film and cinematography at the San Sebastián Film Festival. The cinematography is fantastic with amazing wide screen images on a awesome grand cinematic canvas; invading ships at sea approaching Nanjing, a decimated city in ruins and thousands of soldiers been put to death. To top it off a decent emotive score suitably complement the action.

The historical nature of the movie ensures it is fascinating to watch in a voyeuristic way which is aided by Lu Chan’s poignant, inviting and compelling direction.