1937 year. The first stage of the Japanese-Chinese War is being taken, the city of Nanjing is captured. Japanese soldiers do not know pity (for example, rape all women who come across on the way). A group of Chinese schoolgirls can be hiding in the monastery, which is under the patronage of the West (however, everyone to do with it). Together with the girls in the monastery comes to American (Christian Bale). A little later, a group of prostitutes from the neighboring quarter is resorted. The goal is to leave Nanjing, but it turns out not all.
Initially, the film was called "12 Nanjing". Indeed, all the attention of the director in this film is focused on women. Unfortunately, in the scenes of violence too. They turned out pretty sophisticated. At the same time, the cinema does not become less exciting from it. Next to me, a Chinese journalist was sitting in the hall, which burly regained everything that happened, laughing, cried and slapped his hands.
Dear Christian, in the first half of the film, plays (sorry) the perfect feeder. True does it with great pleasure (something like: Gosh! Thank you for not Batman again). In general, it can be seen that the actor by this project "burns". Maybe therefore, on the press-conference after the film, he was in a very good mood, patiently responded to the same type of issues of Chinese journalists. Before leaving the Bale hall, about 15 minutes gave autographs and photographed with the most brave.
For Chinese actresses neither and Zhang Duda film became the debut in the cinema. Girls with excitement told them to scare them first Bale ("Big Star"). For myself, I once again noted how beautiful Chinese actresses are beautiful. I think that Nini, who has learned English well for the film, there are all the chances to gain a foothold in Hollywood
If we summarize, then for me this film at the festival has become one of the best. It is a pity that he does not participate in the competition. I was not fully sure that the Master of Visual Zhang Imou will show so ambiguous theme. But it turned out. Very brutally, very beautiful, very exciting. But will I revise? Unlikely.