The Flowers of War

 

The Flowers of War 2011

• Director: Yimou Zhang
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Xinye Zhang
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Christian Bale – many, including Henry V
• Why? Christian Bale
• Seen:  6 December 2023                   

        In 1937 Japan invaded China, conquering the city of Nanking, a war crime which is now known as the Rape of Nanking.

       In the film a drunken American mercenary (Bale) takes refuge in a cathedral with a group of school girls and a group of luxury prostitutes. Japanese soldiers storm the cathedral.

       Almost universally adored by IMDb reviewers, it is scorned by such as Roger Ebert and Walter Addiego of the San Francisco Chronicle. For good reason. Why, they ask, must the hero be a white America who conveniently transforms from a vulgar buffoon into a sacrificial hero? Why, I ask, must there be a sentimental romance and clichéd hookers with hearts of gold? Why is it so heavily melodramatic when it could have been so much more gripping without the glamour and slapstick humour? Bale does what he can with the role but it’s far from his best and the film as a whole is a disappointment. The actual history of this war deserves better.

 2* of 5