Summary of the film -- the flowers of war - Essay Example

Summary of the film -- The flowers of War Introduction The Flowers of War film is based in Chinese, which was acted on depicting the Chinese historical war. It was directed by Zhang Yimou, where Christian Bale was the star of the film. He was assisted by other cast members such as; Tong Dawei, Cao Kefan, Shigeo Kobayashi, Atsuro Watabe, Ni Ni and Zhang Xinyi. The film was based on Novella by Geling Yan, Flowers of Nanking while being inspired by the Minnie Vautrins diary. The story was based on Chinese Naking during the rape of Nanking of 1937 in the second Sino war of Japan.

Some escapees took refuge in the church where they were trying to survive the persecution and the plight that was brought by the city’s violent invasion (Yan and Harman 10). In 84th Academy Awards, the film was selected as the best foreign language film though it never made to the final list. The film also was nominated for the sixty-ninth Golden Globe Awards. The Awards of sixth Asian film presented this film with several nominations including the Best Film. The distribution rights in North America were acquired which led to qualification to Oscar limited where it was released in Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2012.

PlotIn 1937, Japan invaded China, which led to beginning of the Second Sino War of Japan. The Imperial Japanese army overrun the Nanking the China’s capital city in December where they carried a systematic and brutal massacre in Nanking. The Chinese Army was overpowered by the invading Japanese Army, the desperate school-going girls fled to the protective walls of the convent at Western Roman Cathedral. At this place John Miller, who an American mortician was tasked with burying the priest met with the schoolgirls (Yan and Harman 55).

He found a boy there by the name George, who was an orphan, rose by the dead priest and had some English proficiency. The boy was an age mate to most of the girls. After a short while a group of prostitutes came to the Cathedral, they took refuge where they hide in the cellar. Miller pretended to be a priest and tried to make everyone safe as he repaired the convents truck and used it to escape. After an incident when the Japanese forces assaulted the cathedral, Japanese Colonel promised to secure the Cathedral by placing some guards outside the gate and requested the students to sing the chorale for him.

He later gave Miller an official invitation for the girls to go and sing at the Japanese Army celebration for their victory, but he feared their safety he declined. The Colonel told Miler that it was an order and that they were to be picked the following day. Before leaving, they counted the girls where they erroneously counted the call girls who had strayed from the cellar (Yan and Harman 130). The prostitutes offered to partake the event instead of the schoolgirls with George, the adopted son of the fallen priest as he disguises as a girl.

The following day the Flowers of Nanking were led by the unsuspecting Army to the event. Miller took the schoolgirls and escaped with them in the truck he repaired. The fate of the thirteen flowers remained unknown, or they martyred themselves for the freedom of the students.ConclusionThe film was based on The Chinese language, where illustrated the social problems that were faced by the girls during the Second Sino War of Japan where they took refuge at Cathedral. At the Cathedral, they were met by Miller, who saved them and assured them their security.

Works CitedYan, Geling, and Nicky Harman. The Flowers of War. [Place of publication not identified]:P.1-256, Vintage, 2013. Print.