The Flowers of War
Encyclopedia
The Flowers of War previously called Nanjing Heroes and 13 Flowers of Nanjing, is an upcoming historical drama war film
directed by Zhang Yimou
, starring Christian Bale
and Shigeo Kobayashi
. The film, which is based on the novel The 13 Women of Nanjing by Geling Yan
, has been selected as the Chinese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 84th Academy Awards
.
, China
during the Nanking Massacre
, at the time of the Second Sino-Japanese War
. A group of escapees, finding sanctuary in a Church compound, risk their lives as they struggle to survive the plight and persecution brought on by the violent invasion of the city.
started the same month. They began shooting on location in Nanjing
, China
on January 10, 2011. The dialogue of the film was shot about 40% in English and the rest in Mandarin Chinese, with an estimated production budget of $90.2 million, which makes this China’s most expensive film yet. Joss Williams was announced as special effects supervisor
, Yohei Taneda as the production designer
, William Chang as production and costume designer, and Graciela Mazon as costume designer
.
On September 9, 2011, the film was retitled The Flowers of War, after a 20-minute screening for prominent U.S.
film distributors and the media at the Toronto International Film Festival
, and it was changed by Zhang to emphasize on the female aspects of the story. Zhang stated that the story in The Flowers of War differs from many other Chinese films on this subject as it is told from the perspectives of women. The Flowers of War is to be released in China on December 16, 2011. A United States release date is yet to be announced.
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
directed by Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....
, starring Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
and Shigeo Kobayashi
Shigeo Kobayashi
is a Japanese actor. Born and raised in Tokyo, Shigeo Kobayashi has worked on over 80 films, theatrical productions and TV drama series. In 2008, he played the first leading role in a short film "Todai " a part of . His most recent work includes a role of a Japanese Lieutenant in The Flowers of...
. The film, which is based on the novel The 13 Women of Nanjing by Geling Yan
Geling Yan
Geling Yan is a Chinese writer, author of several novels, short stories and screenplays. Much of her work has been adapted for film. She is currently represented by the Hong Kong based .-Biography:...
, has been selected as the Chinese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 84th Academy Awards
84th Academy Awards
The 84th Academy Awards ceremony will honor the best films of 2011 and will take place on February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. It will be televised in the United States on ABC. The host was originally going to be Eddie Murphy. However, after Brett Ratner resigned as...
.
Synopsis
The film is set in 1937 in NanjingNanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during the Nanking Massacre
Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a mass murder, genocide and war rape that occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing , the former capital of the Republic of China, on December 13, 1937 during the Second...
, at the time of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. A group of escapees, finding sanctuary in a Church compound, risk their lives as they struggle to survive the plight and persecution brought on by the violent invasion of the city.
Cast
- Christian BaleChristian BaleChristian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
as John Haufman - Tong DaweiTong DaweiTong Dawei is a Chinese actor and singer. Tong is best known for starring TV series Jade Guan-yin, Struggle and the film Lost in Beijing....
as Major Li - Shigeo KobayashiShigeo Kobayashiis a Japanese actor. Born and raised in Tokyo, Shigeo Kobayashi has worked on over 80 films, theatrical productions and TV drama series. In 2008, he played the first leading role in a short film "Todai " a part of . His most recent work includes a role of a Japanese Lieutenant in The Flowers of...
as Lt. Kato - Paul SchneiderPaul Schneider (actor)Paul Andrew Schneider is an American film actor.-Early life and career:Schneider was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the North Carolina School of Arts...
Production
In December, 2010, it was announced that the film would be made, and pre-productionPre-production
Pre-production or In Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance.- In film :...
started the same month. They began shooting on location in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on January 10, 2011. The dialogue of the film was shot about 40% in English and the rest in Mandarin Chinese, with an estimated production budget of $90.2 million, which makes this China’s most expensive film yet. Joss Williams was announced as special effects supervisor
Special effects supervisor
A special effects supervisor is an individual who works on a commercial, theater, television or film set creating special effects. The supervisor generally is the department head who defers to the film's director and/or producers, and who is in charge of the entire special effects team...
, Yohei Taneda as the production designer
Production designer
In film and television, a production designer is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the...
, William Chang as production and costume designer, and Graciela Mazon as costume designer
Costume Designer
A costume designer or costume mistress/master is a person whose responsibility is to design costumes for a film or stage production. He or she is considered an important part of the "production team", working alongside the director, scenic and lighting designers as well as the sound designer. The...
.
On September 9, 2011, the film was retitled The Flowers of War, after a 20-minute screening for prominent U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film distributors and the media at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
, and it was changed by Zhang to emphasize on the female aspects of the story. Zhang stated that the story in The Flowers of War differs from many other Chinese films on this subject as it is told from the perspectives of women. The Flowers of War is to be released in China on December 16, 2011. A United States release date is yet to be announced.