After more than a four year absence, I finally made it to a cinema – nuts, for I love watching movies. Ching-Ching is a very special local HK friend and a favourite movie partner; she will attend everything I ask, no matter how artsy or absurd. This time however she is in charge. She suggests City of Life and Death, written and directed by Chuan Lu, with fine performances from Ye Liu, Yuanyuan Gao and Hideo Nakaizumi. This vivid dramatization of the rape of Nanking in 1937 is beautifully filmed in black and white. I know the story well, but the film really drives it home. The film takes the angle of a Japanese soldier and is not surprisingly shocking stuff! The film is over two hours long, although it doesn´t feel like it which is always a good sign.
The film is shown at Broadway Cinematique in Yau Ma Tei, one of my favourite cinemas in Hong Kong with plenty of arts and low budget local and international films. The café and bookshop next door is excellent.
an excellent movie partner
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