City of Life and Death

In 1937, as the Second Sino-Japanese War rages on, the Imperial Japanese Army's brutal capture of Nanjing, capital of the Republic of China, marks the beginning of a harrowing period known as the Nanking Massacre. In the aftermath of this devastating event, Lieutenant Lu Jianxiong (Liu Ye) and his fellow soldier Shunzi (Gao Yuanyuan) find themselves on a desperate mission to thwart a group of deserting National Revolutionary Army troops from fleeing the besieged city. However, their valiant efforts are short-lived as they soon fall into the hands of the Japanese forces that have encircled Nanjing.

As the Japanese military intensifies its search for enemy forces within the city's walls, Superior Private (later Sergeant) Kadokawa Masao (Nakaizumi Hideo) and his comrades face a ferocious onslaught from a small band of Chinese soldiers, including Lu Jianxiong, who launch a guerrilla attack from buildings. Despite their initial successes, Lu and his companions are eventually forced to surrender as more Japanese troops pour in, leading to the systematic execution of Chinese prisoners-of-war.

In the midst of this chaos, Shunzi and a young boy named Xiaodouzi (Liu Bin) miraculously survive the carnage and seek refuge within the Nanking Safety Zone, a haven established by German businessman John Rabe (John Paisley) and other Westerners. This makeshift sanctuary becomes home to thousands of Chinese women, children, elderly men, and wounded soldiers who have fled the violence. However, the zone is repeatedly breached by marauding Japanese soldiers hell-bent on committing atrocities against female refugees. In response, the women are compelled to cut their hair and don masculine attire to safeguard themselves from these heinous attacks.

Meanwhile, Kadokawa's experiences are marked by a poignant struggle with his own moral compass as he develops feelings for a Japanese prostitute named Yuriko (Miyamoto Yuko). Despite the omnipresent brutality surrounding him, Kadokawa finds himself torn between his conflicting impulses and ultimately brings solace to Yuriko through gifts and promises of marriage after the war.

As Tang Tianxiang (Miyamoto Yuko), the diligent secretary of Rabe, and Jiang Shuyun, a compassionate teacher, work tirelessly to manage the safety zone's daily operations, they are powerless against the atrocities unfolding around them. Despite his position of privilege, Tang is unable to shield his young daughter from the brutal attack by a Japanese soldier, nor protect his sister-in-law from the unspeakable violation that follows. When Second Lieutenant Ida Osamu (Kohata Ryu) demands that the refugees provide 100 women as "comfort women," Rabe and Jiang are forced to deliver this devastating news to the community with tears in their eyes. Xiaojiang and others volunteer to take their place, hoping that their sacrifice will spare the lives of those they hold dear.

As Kadokawa bears witness to another soldier's heinous act against Xiaojiang, her lifeless body is left scattered on the ground, surrounded by the remnants of rice brought as a meager attempt at comfort. The tragic fate of Xiaojiang and countless others who have been subjected to the abuse is further underscored when their bodies are callously carted away, leaving behind only the haunting memory of their suffering.

Meanwhile, Rabe receives orders from his homeland, forcing him to depart Nanking, leaving Tang and his wife behind. With a heavy heart, Tang makes the ultimate sacrifice, trading places with a Chinese soldier posing as Rabe's assistant, choosing to stay behind in search of May, whose sanity has been shattered by the horrors they have endured.

As Mrs. Tang (Qin Lan) reveals her pregnancy before bidding her husband farewell, she is left with only tears and trepidation for the uncertain future that lies ahead. The cruel fate that awaits them is sealed when Ida, consumed by malice, orders Tang's execution by firing squad. The once-thriving safety zone is dismantled, replaced by a ruthless hunt for Chinese men who were previously soldiers, promising them a false sense of security and a chance at redemption if they surrender.

However, these men are instead herded into trucks and met with a cruel fate: execution. Shunzi, a survivor of the earlier atrocities, initially escapes recognition as a former soldier but is ultimately identified by a Japanese soldier and forced onto a truck, sealing his own doom.

As the desperate refugees plead with the Japanese authorities for mercy, Minnie Vautrin (Beverly Peckous) and her fellow Westerners intervene on behalf of the doomed masses. In a heart-wrenching display of humanity, Ida permits each refugee to select only one male companion to be spared from the gruesome fate that awaits them. Amidst this backdrop of chaos and despair, Jiang Shuyun finds herself forced to improvise, donning a convincing disguise as she rescues a man by posing as his wife, then returns for Shunzi (Zhao Yisui), presenting him as her husband, while Xiaodouzi plays the role of their innocent child. Kadokawa, however, is not fooled by Jiang's ruse, yet he chooses to remain silent, allowing her to continue her deception.

Despite this brief reprieve, another Japanese soldier inadvertently betrays Jiang's true identity to Ida, and the three are subsequently apprehended. Shunzi is taken away once more, this time accompanied by Xiaodouzi, leaving Jiang to face a grim fate. In a desperate bid for mercy, Jiang implores Kadokawa to end her suffering, knowing that she will soon be subjected to the brutalities of war. With a heavy heart, Kadokawa grants her request, ending her life with a merciful bullet.

In the aftermath of this tragic event, Kadokawa's emotional turmoil comes to a head as he sets out to locate Yuriko, only to learn that she has succumbed to the ravages of war. Consumed by grief and regret, Kadokawa requests a proper funeral for his "wife," even as the Japanese forces perform a somber dance-ritual to celebrate their conquest of Nanking and honor their fallen comrades.

As Kadokawa and another soldier prepare to execute Shunzi and Xiaodouzi, he suddenly intervenes, releasing the pair from certain death. With a heavy heart, Kadokawa shares his profound realization that "life is more difficult than death," earning the respect of his fellow soldier as he bows in reverence before departing. Kadokawa's guilt, however, proves too great to bear, and he ultimately takes his own life to escape the crushing weight of his conscience.

The final credits reveal a glimmer of hope, as Mrs. Tang and Ida Osamu are shown to have lived long lives, while Xiaodouzi remains alive today, a testament to the enduring power of human resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.