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Starting December 1937 and going to early ’38, the Japanese Army occupied the Chinese city of Nanking, proceeding to murder more than 200,000 of its citizens and raping tens of thousands of its women.
During this dark period, a small group of Europeans and Americans in the city banded together to save 250,000 Chinese people — many of them paying dearly for sticking out their necks.
In a novel approach, the documentary "Nanking" combines interviews with survivors and perpetrators with archival footage and live actors reciting diaries and letters of the various Westerners who risked their lives to help other human beings. Although not easy to sit through and not as moving as it could have been, "Nanking" is still a well-crafted history lesson that repays the patient filmgoer.
There more than 10 actors involved — solemnly perched on chairs in a large, empty room — but the ones making a number of appearances are Mariel Hemingway, Woody Harrelson and Jurgen Prochnow. Hemingway plays Minnie Vautrin, a valiant schoolteacher who put herself in harm’s way many times before the siege ended. Harrelson plays Bob Wilson, the only surgeon left in Nanking’s hospital, and Prochnow is a German citizen who does what many of his fellow countrymen did not do in Germany a few years later.
Co-directors Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman have skillfully weaved these performances with interviews of Chinese and Japanese present for the atrocity. One of the film’s most chilling moments involved several former Japanese soldiers talking about how they actively took part in the rape and murder of many women. There is something unsettling about seeing a man in his late 80s talk about something so savage in a tone that could easily be used to describe a day at the beach.
If the film has a fault, it’s the juxtaposition of its various elements is not as smooth as it could be. After awhile, it was hard to keep up with the different interviews and images.
That said, "Nanking" is a well-crafted visit to a time that reminds us even during the darkest hours, the human spirit will not go down without a fight.
Nanking
Three reels out of four
At a Ritz Theater tomorrow
Recommended rental
All releases available Tuesday unless otherwise noted.
Groundhog Day: 15th Anniversary Edition
PG
Available Tuesday
With all due respect to fans of "Lost in Translation," this is still Bill Murray’s best comedic performance. Murray plays Phil Connors, who is sent to Punxsutawney to cover Groundhog Day and every day wakes up to the same day. This gives him a chance to woo his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell). The 15th-anniversary edition includes an interview with director Harold Ramis and "The Study of Groundhogs: The Real Life of Marmots."
Movie schedules until Jan. 24 unless otherwise indicated. Call theaters for updates.
SOUTH PHILLY
United Artists Riverview Plaza
Columbus Blvd. and Reed St.
215-755-2219
How She Move (PG-13) Thu.: 11:59 Fri.-Thu.: 11:40 a.m., 1:10, 2:10, 3:30, 4:30, 5:50, 6:50, 8:10, 9:10, 10:40
Meet the Spartans (PG-13) Thu.: 11:59 Fri.-Thu.: 11:55 a.m., 2:05, 4:10, 6:20, 8:40, 10:50
Rambo (R) Thu.: 11:59 Fri.-Thu.: 12, 12:50, 2:20, 3:20, 4:40, 5:40, 7, 8, 9:30, 10:25
Untraceable (R) Thu.: 11:59 Fri.-Thu.: 12:10, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10:10
Mad Money (PG-13) Thu.: 11:40 a.m., 2:10, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15 Fri.-Thu.: 1:30, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50
Cloverfield (PG-13) Thu.: 11:50 a.m., 12:30, 1, 2, 2:40, 3:10, 4:10, 4:50, 5:30, 6:15, 7:15, 7:50, 8:30, 9:30, 10, 10:50 Fri.-Thu.: 11:50 a.m., 12:30, 1, 1:55, 2:40, 3:10, 4, 4:50, 5:30, 6:10, 7:10, 7:40, 8:30, 9:15, 10, 10:45
27 Dresses (PG-13) Thu.: 12:15, 1:15, 2:50, 4:20, 5:20, 7, 8:10, 9:45, 10:40 Fri.-Thu.: 12:15, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50, 9:40, 10:20
The Bucket List (PG-13) Thu.: 11:45 a.m., 2:20, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50 Fri.-Thu.: 1:40, 4:20, 7:15, 9:45
First Sunday (PG-13) Thu.: 12, 12:50, 1:30, 2:30, 3:20, 4, 5, 5:50, 6:40, 7:40, 8:20, 9:15, 10:10, 10:45 Fri-Thu.: 12:40, 3, 5:25, 7:45, 10:15
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie (G) Thu.: 11:35 a.m., 1:45, 3:50, 6, 8:05 Fri.-Thu.: 11:35 a.m., 1:45, 3:50, 6
One Missed Call (PG-13) Thu.: 12:40, 3, 5:15, 8, 10:35 Fri.-Thu.: 8:20, 10:30
Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG) Thu.: 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:25, 9:40 Fri.-Thu.: 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:25
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG) Thu.: 1:05, 4:15, 7:10, 10:05 Fri.-Thu.: 12:45, 3:40, 6:30, 9:20
Michael Clayton (R) Fri.-Thu.: 1:05, 3:45, 6:40, 9:35
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (PG-13) Thu.: 10:20 (Ends 1/24)
Spirit of the Marathon (NR) Thu.: 7:30 (Ends 1/24) P.S. I Love You (PG-13) Thu.: 1:20 (Ends 1/24)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R) Thu.: 7:35, 10:30 (Ends 1/24)
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (PG) Thu.: 1:40, 4:35 (Ends 1/24)
I Am Legend (PG-13) Thu.: 4:05, 9:55 (End 1/24)
Charlie Wilson’s War (R) Thu.: 4:25, 7:45, 10:25 (Ends 1/24)
The Great Debaters (PG-13) Thu.: 1:10, 7:05 (Ends 1/24)
CENTER CITY
Ritz at the Bourse
400 Ranstead St.
215-925-7900
Nanking (R) Fri.-Thu.: 12:20, 2:40, 5:15, 7:35, 9:45
Teeth (R) Fri.-Thu.: 12:20, 3, 5:20, 7:25, 9:45
Persepolis (PG-13) Thu.-Thu.: 12:15, 2:45, 5:10, 7:40, 10
Juno (PG-13) Thu.: 12, 12:50, 2:10, 3, 4:15, 5:15, 6:30, 7:30, 9:45 Fri.-Sun., Tue.: 12, 2:10, 4:15, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30 Mon., Wed., Thu.: 12, 2:10, 4:15, 6:30, 9:30
The Orphanage (R) Thu.-Sun., Tue.: 12, 2:30, 5:05, 7:30, 9:55 Mon., Wed., Thu.: 12, 2:30, 4:55, 9:55
Steep (PG) Thu.: 12:30, 3, 5:10, 7:25, 9:45 (Ends 1-24)
I’m Not There (R) Thu.: 9:20 (Ends 1-24)
Ritz 5
214 Walnut St.
215-925-7900
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (PG-13) Thu.-Sun., Tue.: 12:05, 2:30, 4:55, 7:25, 9:55 Wed.: 12:05, 2:30, 4:50, 7:10, 9:35 Mon.-Thu.: 12:05, 2:20, 4:40, 10:05
There Will Be Blood (R) Thu.: 12:15, 3:30, 9:30 Fri.-Sat.: 12, 3:05, 6:15, 9:30 Sun., Tue.-Wed.: 1, 4:30, 8 Mon., Thu.: 12:15, 3:30, 7, 9:30
The Savages (R) Thu.-Fri., Sun.-Tue., Thu.: 12, 2:25, 4:55, 7:20, 9:50 Sat.: 4:55, 7:20, 9:50 Wed.: 12, 2:20, 4:45, 7:10, 9:35
Atonement (R) Thu.-Tue., Thu.: 1:10, 4, 7, 9:45 Wed.: 1:10, 4, 6:50, 9:25
The Kite Runner (PG-13) Thu., Fri., Sun., Tue., Thu.: 12:45, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40 Sat., Mon.: 4:10, 7:05, 9:40 Wed.: 12:45, 4:10, 7, 9:30
Ritz East
Second Street between Chestnut and Walnut
215-925-7900
Cassandra’s Dream (PG-13) Thu.-Thu.: 12, 2:30, 5, 7:20, 9:40
No Country for Old Men (R) Thu.-Thu.: 12:30, 3:30, 7, 9:30
Roxy Theater
2023 Sansom St.
215-923-6699
Michael Clayton (R) Fri., Mon.-Thu.: 2:30, 5, 7:30, 9:45 Sat.-Sun.: 12, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 9:45
The Bucket List (PG-13) Thu.-Fri., Mon.-Thu.: 2:45, 5:15, 7:35, 9:40 Sat.-Sun.: 12:30, 2:45, 5:15, 7:35, 9:40
P.S. I Love You (PG-13) Thu.: 2:30, 5, 7:30, 9:45 (Ends 1-24)
