Product ReviewsNanking (DVD, 2008)

A powerful reminder of the cost of war and the people that stood up.

I bought this as I was told about it awhile back ago. This documentary was unbelievable. Based on the war between Japanese army in 1937 invading China main capital city.There are many war scenes in this documentary that are very disturbing but show the cost of the "rape of Nanking".
FILM SYNOPSIS

A powerful, emotional and relevant reminder of the heartbreaking toll war takes on the innocent, Nanking tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China, in the early days of World War II. As part of a campaign to conquer all of China, the Japanese subjected Nanking – which was then China’s capital – to months of aerial bombardment, and when the city fell, the Japanese army unleashed murder and rape on a horrifying scale. In the midst of the rampage, a small group of Westerners banded together to establish a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge. Unarmed, these missionaries, university professors, doctors and businessmen – including a Nazi named John Rabe – bore witness to the events, while risking their own lives to protect civilians from slaughter.

The story is told through deeply moving interviews with Chinese survivors, chilling archival footage and photos of the events, and testimonies of former Japanese soldiers. At the heart of Nanking is a filmed stage reading of the Westerners’ letters and diaries, featuring Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway and Jurgen Prochnow. Through its interweave of archival images, testimonies of survivors, and readings of first hand accounts, the film puts the viewer on the streets of Nanking and brings the forgotten past to startling life.

Nanking is a testament to the courage and conviction of individuals who were determined to act in the face of evil and a powerful tribute to the resilience of the Chinese people – a gripping account of light in the darkest of times.

Overall this is a must see documentary.Read full review...

Well made documentary on one of history's saddest and least known tragedies

This is a documentary but told in first person narrative making it more interesting than some. Based on the Rape of Nanking which is a largely forgotten event in history. Japan attacked China in 1937 and Nanking was China's capital. The Japanese just murdered the Chinese. This event makes Hitler's SS troops look like girl scouts. It is not known how many Chinese were murdered but probably not close to Hitler's camps but the Japanese were much meaner. Plus, Japan has never acknowledged this event or apologized. The mystery is why don't we know more about this?Read full review...

Stunning historical depiction of the rape of Nanking.

This film is a stunning depiction of the tragedy of Japan's invasion of Nanking in 1937 (commonly referred to as "The Rape of Nanking). This is an important historical documentary type of movie that details the shocking massacre that resulted from that invasion, and relies on the eye witness accounts of foreigners living there when the attack took place to tell the story. The actors did an outstanding job portraying these eye witnesses accounts, and it is commendable that HBO produced such a testimony to this massacre. The people of Nanking, and also Shanghai, are (at the very least) deserving of having their suffering at the hands of the Japanese remembered in such a respectful and honest way.Read full review...

Dvd Review

The book was great, the movie was good.

Great

Great

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: goodwillbks