This is one of the only movies (non-documentary) that has ever been made of the Rape of Nanjing, among the worst atrocities to have been committed in World War II. The film is from the viewpoint of a family with a Chinese father and Japanese mother, which proves ironic. The Japanese army swarms into the city, and begins indiscriminate slaughter, torture, and rape of the civilians and surrendered soldiers. After ruining the city, they turn their attention to the Safety Zone of Nanjing, which was set up by the Red Cross and other international organizations, that was supposed to be a safe area for civilians, and go on a rampage. The film also depicts the foreigners that were there to help the civilians, and their desperate efforts to stop the savagery. Most of this film is historically based, and the film captures just some of the atrocities that actually occurred. This film is excellent for those wanting to understand what happened in Nanjing at the hands of the Japanese military told through one fictional family's experience.
Review of Nanjing 1937
