City of Life and Death
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Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: In December 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army laid siege to the Chinese capital of Nanking, killing as many as 300,000 citizens during a six-week reign of terror, the details of which Japan and China dispute to this day. Shot in dazzling black-and-white Cinemascope, City of Life and Death is a visionary re-telling of one of the most horrific chapters in modern Asian history, and an unforgettable masterpiece of contemporary world cinema. (Kino International)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    Nov 16, 2011
    100
    Harrowing and unflinching, a savage nightmare so consuming and claustrophobic you will want to leave but fear to go, City of Life and Death is a cinematic experience unlike any you've had before. It's a film strong enough to change your life, if you can bear to watch it at all.
  2. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Lewis
    Sep 22, 2011
    100
    City of Life and Death, a stunning re-creation of the Japanese army's annihilation of Nanking in 1937, will make you flinch, even as you admire its brilliant black-and-white cinematography, breathtaking art design and unerring direction.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Phil de Semlyen
    May 9, 2011
    80
    Passionate and expertly crafted, this black-and-white opus is well worth seeking out.
  4. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Joshua Rothkopf
    May 10, 2011
    60
    The movie skips along episodically; it's not quite as sharp as a war narrative needs to be, even if its nightmarish psychology feels spot-on.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Dotunfolded
    10
    This movie is worth watching solely for its craftsmanship, its cinematography and reconstruction of the war zone are among the best in my recent memory. Yet it is its blunt content that pierce through the softest spot of all human beings. I just felt lucky when I walked out the cinema.… Collapse
  2. Canisrah
    10
    A profound, heart-rending, and utterly moving experience. Engaging as it is tragic, this episode of history is retold in a manner that is both horrific and beautiful. I shall never forget it.… Expand
  3. MorriBey
    10
    A true masterpiece. A Schindler's List for the Nanking civilians. The black and white added to the authenticity of the movie. A true eye opener into the other conflict during WW2 .… Expand
  4. dreweastwood
    7
    The film is about the chinise village of Natking during world war 2 and the shocking truth of one of the jappanse worse war crimes. The film dipicts the truth so well of how the jappanese and chinise would of acted in this dreadful carnage and atrosity, But the fine line of filming this movie in black and white was a perfect desition that kinda reminded me of Schindlers List, aswell as many other war film classics. A truly must see film with splended acting, directing and cinemtography it will leave you breathless to the final scene.… Expand

See all 5 User Reviews

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