Review of City of Life and Death (2009) by Allen B — 12 Jan 2015
Last night I watched this movie on cable and found myself in thrall to the grim narrative of brutality beyond belief. Chinese Director Lu Chuan has created what I believe to be the truest artistic depiction of humankind's willingness to consciously commit atrocities on others. Critics and reviewers have emphasized that watching this movie is "witnessing" to a grim truth. I cannot agree more. In the hour and a half that I watched, I found myself looking at my watch and thinking "Make it stop. Let it end soon." It did not, instead it pressed on remorselessly displaying horror upon horror.
The are any of a number of powerful movies that convey the awful nature of war -- Judgement at Nuremburg, Schindler's List, Hotel Rwanda, Soldier Blue, Catch-22, Sophie's Choice, All Quiet on the Western Front - but I believe that City of Life and Death may be the very best and most powerful portrayal of the true agonies of war to come to the screen.
This review of City of Life and Death (2009) was written by Allen B on 12 Jan 2015.
City of Life and Death has generally received very positive reviews.
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