The Flowers of War

2012 • 142 minutes
4.5
189 reviews
42%
Tomatometer
R
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

From internationally celebrated director Zhang Yimou (Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, Hero, House Of Flying Daggers) comes a story of love and war. The dangerous streets of Nanjing throw together a group of opposites --a flock of shell-shocked school children, a dozen seductive courtesans, and a renegade American (Academy Award® winner Christian Bale, The Fighter, The Dark Knight) posing as a priest to save his own skin, or so he thinks -- all seeking safety behind a walled cathedral. Trapped by marauding soldiers, over the next few days the prejudices and divides between them will fall away as they unite around a last-ditch plan to protect the children from impending catastrophe.
Rating
R

Ratings and reviews

4.5
189 reviews
Justin Sasse
July 14, 2014
It focuses on conflicts about WWII that most Americans do not know about. It's a true rush of action and it will bring you to tears no matter who you are in this world. What would bring you more into tears is the knowledge the true story was even worse than this Hollywood mock up. Bale is hard to take at first but his transformation is glorious. Buy it, keep it, and love it.
A Google user
August 17, 2012
This war drama takes place during the Japanese invasion of China in 1937. Christian Bale delivers another impressive performance and the cinematography is exceptional. I would recommend Iris Chang's book, 'The Rape of Nanking' if you want to know the true historical account.
A Google user
August 17, 2012
Pleasantly surprised. Beautifully done... And the easiest foreign film To watch and read subtitles at the same time because there is enough english to not make it tedious at times like some foreign films, as great as they may be, tend to be. Never heard of it until I rented it and watched it 3 * which I never do. I think it's a must see for all men and women alike. Some of the rape scenes may be a little too much for kids under 17.