The Flowers of War review

 Number 647 on the top 1000 films of all time is Zhang Yimou's 2011 Chinese historical drama-war film - 'The Flowers of War.'

Set during the rape of Nanking, we see a group of Chinese school girls led by Shu (Zhang Xinyi) taking cover in a church led by Father Ingleman. But with this priest's recent death, the responsibility falls to his young apprentice George Chen (Huang Tianyuan.) They are soon joined by a group of high-class prostitutes led by Mi Yo (Ni Ni) and American mortician John Miller (Christian Bale).

I've said it before and I'll say it again: more people need to know about the atrocities that Japan committed against China in the run-up to the Second World War. In the West, this has always been over-shadowed in favour of the Western Front, but the rape of Nanking is one of Japan's most heinous crimes. An entire city was decimated with its men shot and women raped.

Zhang Yimou quite rightly did not shy away from showcasing the sadism of the Japanese. We saw their brutality in unflinching detail. It was upsetting to watch, but it was only being honest to what happened in real life. I thought the acting from all the child actors was very good.

The actresses playing the schoolgirls were excellent, displaying a maturity beyond their years. Despite the terrible things done to them, they never cry and complain. This was especially true of Zhang Xinyi who excelled as their leader Shu. But it also applied to Huang Tinyuan who portrayed George Chen. Despite not being much older than them, he tries his best to protect the school girls. Yet it is obvious that he is quickly out of his depth. It was difficult not to feel sorry for him as he tackled his insurmountable task. The characterisation and the acting all round was good.

The Flowers of War received a mixed reception from critics with most criticism centring on John Miller being an unnecessary distraction who was playing a white saviour. Initially, I was tempted to agree with this. John Miller was a cliched, predictable character who added so little to the first half of the film that it could have survived without him. Up until the forty-five minute mark, much of the Flowers of War focussed on the school girls with Shu taking centre-stage. She also narrates the film.

However, I did enjoy watching John Miller fulfil his reluctant hero character arc. Yes, it is predictable, but it is still enjoyable to watch. I also don't agree with him being a white saviour. How much saving does he actually do? Despite his best efforts, he does little to stop a rogue squad of Japanese soldiers attacking the church; instead it is the lone Chinese Major Li who saves everybody.

And when the Japanese demand that the girls sing at a special play it isn't Miller who suggests a solution, but Mi Yo. And when two of the prostitutes sneak out of the church, needlessly putting themselves into danger, Miller does not bring them back safe and sound. If anything he is a white failure - trying to save everybody but mostly failing. Not to mention, he was based on the real-life American missionary Minnie Vautrin.

There was also some who argue that the film was style over substance. Yes, while there was a lot of spectacle with plenty of slow-motion and vivid colours, it never detracted from the plot. This is in comparison to most Wuxia films which place spectacle front-and-centre. While the Flowers of War did focus on myth and legend, it was always tied to the plot. Even the sequence of the prostitutes singing to the schoolgirls enhanced rather than detracted from the film.

Zhang Yimou wanted to separate the Flowers of War from other similar films by highlighting and celebrating the efforts of women in the war. He certainly achieved that goal. Despite their best efforts, George and John are largely useless - yes they show remarkable bravery and self-sacrifice at the film's conclusion, but this is after four of their number have been killed.

Instead, we see the incredible strength and resourcefulness of the female characters. I've already spoken about the schoolgirls, but the prostitutes were equally intelligent and tough. Yes, the two groups quarrel on occasion - you get tiffs, arguments and fights, but, in the end they work together for the greater good.

Ultimately, I think the Flowers of War was a triumph. It looked gorgeous while also having strong writing, acting and characters. It's just way too traumatic to watch for a second time.