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Poster for City of Life and Death

City of Life and Death

Seen it?

2009 | 132 min | Drama, History, War

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved Flags of Our Fathers or The Last Emperor, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Harrowing.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 12 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: expect violence.
  • It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $20 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 47K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Lu Chuan

  • Liu YeLu Jianxiong
  • Gao YuanyuanMiss Jiang
  • Hideo NakaizumiKadokawa
  • John PaisleyJohn Rabe
  • Beverly PeckousMinnie Vautrin
  • Fan WeiMr. Tang
  • Qin LanMrs. Tang
  • Ryu KohataOfficer Osamu Ida
  • Jiang Yiyan'Xiao Jiang' Jiang Xiangjun
  • Yao Di'May' Zhou Xiaomei