“City of Life and Death”: a movie on courage and uprightness

It was the investors’ suggestion to castsuper stars to perform in this film. After all, this is a really big production, but I tried to cast some not-so-famous actors and actresses. And the further we progressed with the production, the more I discovered that theywere more than capable of fulfilling their jobs. They all performed very well in such a creative project.--- Lu Chuan

[Two Men]

Unyielding courage and uprightness

LuJianxiong(playedbyLiuYe)embodiestheunyielding courage and
uprightnessofthe Chinese people

Character: Lu Jianxiong

Background: A Kuomintang officer staying in Nanjing to fight street battles during the “Nanjing Massacre”

Implication: Resistance

Actor: Liu Ye

Character’s story: He graduated from Whampoa Military Academy and received a good education. He takes an oath to fight to the death and defends Nanjing when he learns that the senior officers have decided to surrender the city and flee. He chooses to stay and resist the attack, and ultimately dies a heroic death.

Actor’s account: Everyone dies, but it is important to be courageous.

In the original script I was a survivor. I was seriously wounded but had escaped. However in the process of filming, I realized that this would not work because historical facts show that the Japanese military killed anyone who looked like they were part of the Chinese military. I am 1.86 meters tall with big eyes and bushy eyebrows, so it would have been difficult for me to escape from their slaughter. The original script was unrealistically perfect, as my character was even able to engage in a romance with "Gao Yuanyuan".

But in reality, love and survival were impossible under such merciless circumstances. I told Lu Chuan that we could not use the original script, so what we shot in the first three months was discarded, and in the new scenario I die when the massacre happens. I understood that this would reduce my role but it didn’t matter. I preferred to die an honorable death rather than to live. It can be very cruel to face the past, particularly when it was the most painful event in our five thousand years of history.

All of us found it difficult to face the truth. We grieved during and after filming the production. I remember while filming a TV program, a clip was played in which we were shot by machine guns along the moat and I could not helpcrying, at which point the program had to be paused. Previously in other entertainment films, I acted quite freely, but this time I did not dare and performed honestly to present the situation as it was.

Lu Chuan’s remarks: Not just I, but most people think that this is the most outstanding performance of his career. What he showed us was not only a man who was masculine but also one who had a sense of responsibility. The expression in his eyes after the tragic failure is exceptionally masculine— not that of a stereotyped man but that of a man filled with emotion.

City of life or death? Nanjing Massacre through young filmmakers eyes

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- With an average age of 35, Chinese filmmakers, led by talented director Lu Chuan, have shown their own understanding of the Nanjing Massacre more than 70 years ago as City of Life and Death premieres here Thursday -- one week ahead of its global release.

We don't want that when people think of that period of history, only some dry figures come up to their mind. We hope people will see some particular faces and their expressions and characteristics, said Lu at the premiere ceremony.

City of Life and Death focuses on Chinese soldiers and civilians' fight against invaders before and after the Nanjing Massacre in 1937.

It took four years and cost 80 million yuan (about 11.7 million U.S. dollars) to finish the work, whose original Chinese title is Nanjing! Nanjing! More than 20,000 college students volunteered in the film.

Cinematographer Cao Yu had a solid working relationship with Luback in Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (2004). The 34-year-old Cao shot the entire film in black-and-white to achieve a documentary-like style.

During the four years after *** 'Kekexili', we were trying to find a more powerful and massive subject. ... We chose black and white because we want to revive that particular time of history as best as we can and bring out the solid atmosphere.

When he visited a museum for project research, Cao said he was overwhelmed by the steadiness and strength that showed through the eyes of the Chinese people before death in some rare pictures taken by Japanese journalists.

I can see the fortitude and strength in their eyes. That's what we wanted to convey through a film, said Cao.

Director Lu also stressed that the theme of the film was the resilient spirits of Chinese people in danger -- unlike many massacre films that focus on the weakness and hopelessness of victims.

The 38-year-old Lu is considered one of the most talented young directors in the country and won global acclaim for Kekexili: Mountain Patrol.

The film, based on a true story of volunteers who patrolled in the Qinghai-Tibetan highland and fought against killers of rare Tibetan antelopes, won Best Film and Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo Film Festivals and a Special Mention award in Berlin.

To present a realistic Nanjing city in 1937, it is said that the crew at the makeup department had to do more than 2,000 figurants in one day, not ignoring details such as a loose button or the mud inside their fingernails.

On Dec. 13, 1937, the invading Japanese army occupied Nanjing and launched a six-week massacre. Chinese records show more than 300,000 people, not only disarmed soldiers but also civilians, were murdered.

I had no idea at all when I first did this film. During shooting, I began to think about why I chose to be an actress and why I had to expose myself to the darkness and cruelty of the history. ... But when it was all done, I realized that it was nirvana for me, said leading actress Gao Yuanyuan.

The 30-year-old beauty, portraying a strong-minded teacher who helped fight against invaders, has shaken off the innocent image from Shanghai Dreams (2005), which was directed by acclaimed Wang Xiaoshuai.

Director Lu Chuan is the one that led us through a journey in hell. ... Now I've gone through this, and I feel I become stronger, said Gao.

We young filmmakers chose to shoot such a big project from a fresh angle. ... We hope filmgoers across the world can understand the generosity, confidence and justness of Chinese people, said Lu.