The Rape of Nanking Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Nanking: Two More From Chinese Viewpoints
Filed under: Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Cinematical Indie », War »
Earlier this year Kim reviewed the documentary Nanking when it premiered at Sundance. Nanking related the experiences of a small group of Westerners who banded together to save as many lives as they could when the Japanese army invaded China in the latter part of 1937. In view of the reported atrocities that took place on a massive scale involving hundreds of thousands of people -- which is still a point of contention and debate -- it's not surprising to hear that more films on the subject will be coming soon. In addition to the previously-announced The Forbidden City (supposedly to star Alec Baldwin), The Rape of Nanking (a Chinese/UK/US co-production, based on Iris Chang's book), and The Truth About Nanjing (by a Japanese filmmaker), two Chinese filmmakers are jumping into the fray. Yim Ho, whose best-known film outside China is Pavilion of Women with Willem DaFoe, is trying to bring Nanking Christmas 1937 to the screen. As with the documentary Nanking, the English-language feature will focus on Westerners helping local Chinese residents. Yim has been working on the project for years, and the script was finally approved by Chinese authorities in March. Meanwhile, Lu Chuan (pictured above) is working on an epic war movie called Nanking! Nanking!; the script has also gained necessary government approvals. The events in Nanjing have personal resonance for Lu, since he attended school in that city and heard so many stories about the massacre that he's wanted to make a film about it ever since. Lu's last film, Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, a gorgeous drama about poachers in Tibet and the volunteers who tried to stop them, was truly inspiring, so in my mind, that gives his film the inside track. Expect more controversy in the months to come.
[Via ScreenDaily]
Nanking Film Ready to Shoot
Filed under: Drama », Foreign Language », Scripts », Cinematical Indie »
The coincidences of cinema stretch well beyond the shores of North America. Whether its due to a thoughtful, snooping ear or a collective consciousness, if one film gets made about a particular subject, chances are that at least one other one will follow suit. In February, Martha Fischer reported that Alec Baldwin was set to star in The Forbidden City, a movie about an American who returns to China to find the man responsible for The Rape of Nanking. Months later, Erik Davis reported that another Nanking film was to be made -- based on Iris Chang's book*, which was released on the 60th anniversary of the slaughter, The Rape of Nanking.The film is about to become a reality, as its set to start filming in January. A Chinese, British and American co-production, the movie has a script penned by William Macdonald, and it will be directed by Con Air helmer Simon West. It's an interesting choice, considering the fact that West is known for his lighter action fare, and not serious, historically-based cinema. The film is set to be released on the 70th anniversary of the start of the slaughter, December 13, 2007, with a wider release in 2008. For those who aren't familiar with this bit of history, The Rape of Nanking was a massacre committed by Japanese troops while they occupied the city of Nanking. The crimes included rape, executions and arson, and while the recorded death toll varies, it is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands.
*Thank you, Bill, for the correction. I'm not sure what inspired my fingers to type out "novel!" -MB
Quickhits: McCormack Joins 1408, China Plans Epic War Pic and Wahlberg Talks Aquaman Movie
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Casting », Deals », Mystery & Suspense », RumorMonger », Fandom », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Odds and ends from Monday:
- After scheduling conflicts forced her out, Kate Walsh has been replaced by Mary McCormack in the Stephen King adaptation, 1408. McCormack joins a cast that already includes John Cusack (What is it with this guy and scary hotel movies?) and Samuel L. Jackson. As we previously reported, pic is based on King's short story and revolves around a debunker of paranormal occurrences who finds his beliefs put to the test upon checking into room the mysterious room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel. McCormack will play Cusack's ex-wife in the flick.
- Maybe I'm nuts, but I find it so bizarre when a country unveils plans for a film, instead of, say, Rob Schneider. But hey, that's how they do things in China, right? The country announced plans today to make a massive war movie, financed by Americans, that will chronicle "the 1937 massacre of civilians in Nanjing by invading Japanese soldiers." Based on Iris Chang's best-seller, The Rape of Nanking, pic's budget will fall somewhere between $20-25 million. Investors are already aiming high, setting their sights on Zhang Zyi and Michelle Yeoh to potentially star in the film.
- Since everyone seems to be talking an Aquaman movie these days, why not ask Mark Wahlberg what his opinion of a possible real-life film is? After all, Wahlberg is an executive producer on Entourage, whose fake version of Aquaman: The Movie helped build a tremendous amount of buzz around the underwater superhero. Speaking to IESB, the actor acknowledged the rumors, but said he'd rather come onboard as a producer and not take on the role of Aqauaman himself. And who does he think should play Aquaman? None other than Adrian Grenier, whose fictional character (Vincent Chase) on Entourage stars as Aquaman in the fake film. Confused yet? I am.
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