Movie: Flowers of War

I received a kind invitation from omy.sg and Shaw Theatres to the preview of FLOWERS OF WAR (Drama, History) yesterday.

Directed by Zhang Yimou, starring Academy Award winner Christian Bale
Release Date: 29 March 2012
Official website | Watch the Movie Trailer

About The Movie:

From internationally celebrated director Zhang Yimou (Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, Hero, House Of Flying Daggers) comes a story of love and war – and a band of outcasts who emerge as unlikely heroes from the shadows of a city’s occupation. At once lyrical and visceral, the film enters the apocalyptic world of Nanjing in 1937 only to find a vibrant human story about the invisible people of the city and a series of unexpected relationships that lead to a resonant act of sacrifice.

How was the Movie?

I never knew about the Nanjing Massacre (the Nanjing massacre) or sometimes known as the Rape of Nanjing which occured in 1937. It was painful to see through this movie that women of any age were not spared. They viewed young convent girls as young virgins… and any women they capture, they would take turns to rape and kill.

Anyway I really quite liked this movie though I was hooked on to it more like I would to a documentary. I have heard of the sad stories of the rape and the killing that took place but I have never really quite imagined it and this vividly as well. So I really appreciated seeing all the killing and the gory details. It made me feel lucky to be living in this day and age and remember what our ancestors went through for the peace that we have today.

It was a very interesting contrasting situation where the an American mortician, brothel ladies and the convent young girls ended up taking refuge in a church. The bravery and constrast which is displayed by these people of different walks of life.

In a sentence, Flowers of War – a tale of brutality and emotional devastation was more than well-portrayed.

I only wished I knew what happened to the courtesans in the end.