Christian Bale in Zhang Yimou’s Nanjing Heroes
Zhang Yimou’s next film, Nanjing Heroes, is likely to stir up some controversy as it deals with a Japanese atrocity that took place during 1937. It’s made in China for the Chinese with Batman (that’s Christian Bale, not Michael Keaton) in a lead role as an American priest. The director of Raise the Red Lantern has long been a familiar name in Western film culture, and his work on this effort will likely have an impact in the States. The story centers on a Japanese invasion that occurred in 1937.
According to Chinese reports, more than 300,000 were killed as a result of what has been called the “Rape of Nanking.” The plot itself is taken from a novel by Yan Geling that depicts 13 Nanking sex workers who help save some of their compatriots from the Japanese invasion. The Associated Press reports that the film is a $90 million production and will be in a mix of Chinese and English languages. Oscar anyone?
About Aric Mitchell: Aric Mitchell is a full-time freelance writer, film critic, author, and journalist living in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Specialties include feature writing, reporting, search engine optimization, entertainment, humor, and issues of general interest to men. Credits include The Rugged, inStash, The City Wire, Flickchart, Break Media, and print magazine Celebrate Arkansas. He also makes his horror debut with the graphic novel anthology Grave Conditions from Haunted Computer.