Review of City of Life and Death (2009) by Ross K — 13 Sep 2016

"Flawless" and "Masterpiece" are terms I rarely use to describe movies for fear of appearing cliche or hyperbolic, but these are the first two words that came to mind after I watched this movie.

I felt every detail was perfect and the characterization, particularly of the Japanese soldier KadoKawa San, to be triple A+, especially since it is done with minimal dialogue but by contrasting bird's eye views on atrocities to close-ups of the characters' reactions.

The film is historically faithful and, more importantly, it adds humanity, confusion and moral variety on the Japanese side, something crucial for Chinese audiences. The film is much more than a historical epic but an in-depth exploration of how low human depravity can sink, the film suggests it has nothing to do with being Japanese, but rather these demons have the potential to flare up in any society that doesn't contain it.

Like Schindler's List, this movie is shot in black and white; a detail that only adds to the somber perfection. One final word I have for this movie is "underappreciated", I am surprised this movie is less well known and acclaimed as Schindler's List, Graveyard of the Fireflies or The Pianist; truly a must-watch.