A country's film reflects the mentality of this nation more directly than any other art media. In the genre of war films, this argument is even more incisive. Because war movies and war-related movies generally cost a lot of money, they can express various popular social ideologies more clearly than any type of movie.
As for all movies with the theme of "Nanjing Massacre", the attitude and historical view to face the huge wounds in the collective memories of this nation is the most critical factor directly related to the success or failure of the film. This type of film has no chance of being mediocre in the current social environment—either to be praised or reviled.
For "Rabe's Diary", a Sino-German co-production film, I think it will be a film that can be recognized by most Chinese audiences. Although from a strict point of view, "Rabe's Diary" should be regarded as a German film, the background of the "Nanjing Massacre" involved in it also gave it an indelible Chinese brand. Such a movie that observes and reflects on the "Nanjing Massacre" from an alien perspective can be recognized in two countries-and these two countries belonged to different camps in World War II. Its attitude and historical outlook are undoubtedly recognized. Is the most important factor.
Germany, as the birthplace of Nazism, was extremely thorough in its post-war self-reflection and liquidation of Nazism. Even the positive marches that originated in the Old Prussian army were adopted by the Nazi SS and the German Nazi army after the war. It is considered a symbol of Nazi Germany to be discarded, and the law prohibits anyone from doing the right steps of Nazi Germany and performing Nazi salutes. It is this resolute and thorough attitude that has won Germany the right to reflect on war and history.
In this historical context, Mr. John Rabe, the protagonist of "Rabe’s Diary", even if he was once a Nazi party member, even if he had protected refugees by wearing a Nazi emblem, the appearance of these historical details would not let him The Chinese audience was disgusted. Because this is a country that is qualified to face history, and this movie can also get rid of the entanglement of history and face a story about human nature.
John Rabe is often referred to by the media as the "Schindler of China". I think what the two have in common is that when faced with huge "injustice", even as an ordinary person, even as an ordinary person. Nazi party members can also have the courage to stand up to defend their inner bottom line, and in the process, their humanity is gradually sublimated, and finally they become a "righteous man." This kind of brilliance that occasionally blooms in human nature is especially precious in the darkness, so it is more worth chasing. For Chinese audiences, I think this kind of faint light in the darkness can transcend national and national boundaries and resonate deep in their hearts.
This glimmer of light is not only love, but also great love. In the face of a huge national disaster, with the passage of time, the collective nightmare did not dissipate because it was not released, and it has been settling in huge silence. 70 years later, we can still feel the resentment accumulated behind the huge silence. Faced with the act of chasing light in the dark, the brave will sigh the preciousness of light and self-salvation, and the cowardly will lament the emptiness of life and self-deception. But in any case, the glimmer of light always exists, it just depends on how we choose.
Under normal expression, the themes of war films are basically trying to sublimate and question how a nation views a specific conflict (whether contemporary or historical), and how this conflict over time affects "collective nightmares, customs or The precipitation effect of "desire". Regarding Chinese films involving the theme of the "Nanjing Massacre", judging from the few films that have been filmed, they have not achieved "normal expression", so there is no talk of promotion and questioning. And this kind of regret cannot be made up by "Rabe’s Diary", because although it involves the "Nanjing Massacre", the main point of the film is to tell the story of how an ordinary German discovered humanity and sublimated humanity in the face of a huge disaster. . Although it has completed this story about human nature well, it does not have the ability and qualification to sublimate and question the collective pain of the Chinese. This is not a fault in film technique, nor a fault in film standpoint, but because of such a huge disaster and pain. Although human nature has in common, the kind of heart-wrenching sadness and questioning can only be caused by The Chinese did it by themselves.
"Nanjing! Nanjing! "Will also be released this April and "Rabe's Diary". As a Chinese film with the theme of "Nanjing Massacre", how it treats this period of history will be a contrast worth paying attention to.
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