Nanking

I was completely captivated by this movie. It is a well made and fascinating documentary on a subject that I didn't know anything about - the 1937 Japanese invasion and subsequent occupation of Nanking, China.

The filmmakers deftly weaved old newsreel footage, recent interviews with surviving Chinese victims and Japanese soldiers, and staged readings by actors of letters and diaries from the time. The journals were written by Westerners (missionaries, professors and such) who were in Nanking at the time of the invasion and were able to use their influence to create a safety zone to help protect 200,000 Chinese from the murder and rape that was being perpetrated on them. Over 200,000 Chinese were killed during the initial six week period with an estimated 20,000 rapes.

The atrocities mentioned are hard to listen to so this movie isn't necessarily for everybody. But anyone with an interest in well-made, quick moving, and good documentaries should give this one a chance.

The Kronos Quartet score is also another reason to watch.

Directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman
2007
Cinemax