City of Life and Death transports us to 1937, a pivotal moment shortly after the onset of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Imperial Japanese Army has captured Nanjing (or Nanking), the capital of the Republic of China, marking the beginning of the tragic events known historically as the Nanking Massacre. During these harrowing weeks, countless Chinese prisoners-of-war and civilians face horrific fates at the hands of the Japanese military.
In the midst of this chaos, a brave Chinese soldier, Lieutenant Lu Jianxiong (Liu Ye), along with his comrade Shunzi (Gao Yuanyuan), endeavor to thwart a group of deserting troops who plan to abandon the city, but their mission is cut short when they are captured by Japanese forces encircling Nanjing.
As the tension escalates, Superior Private (later Sergeant) Kadokawa Masao (Nakaizumi Hideo) faces a perilous confrontation with Lu Jianxiong and his group, who bravely ambush him and his men from the safety of the city's buildings. However, as more Japanese troops arrive, Lu and his allies are compelled to surrender, leading to the systematic execution of Chinese prisoners. Against this backdrop of despair, Shunzi and a young boy named Xiaodouzi (Liu Bin) narrowly escape death and find refuge in the Nanking Safety Zone. This sanctuary is overseen by John Rabe (John Paisley), a German businessman and Nazi Party member, along with other Westerners who attempt to shield thousands of civilians, including women, children, and wounded soldiers, from further atrocities.
Despite their best efforts, the Safety Zone is repeatedly invaded by brutal Japanese soldiers, determined to violate numerous women. In an act of desperation, the female refugees are encouraged to disguise themselves as men, cutting their hair for safety. Among them, a determined prostitute named Xiaojiang (Jiang Yiyan) staunchly refuses to succumb to such measures as she believes her appearance is crucial for her survival in a world gone mad.
Meanwhile, Kadokawa finds himself entangled in a web of conflicting emotions as he develops feelings for Yuriko (Miyamoto Yuko), a Japanese prostitute. Struggling to reconcile his compassion for her with the pervasive violence surrounding them, he brings her gifts from Japan, even promising to marry her once peace is restored.
While the operations of the Safety Zone are primarily maintained by Rabe’s secretary Tang Tianxiang (Miyamoto Yuko) and teacher Jiang Shuyun, they are subjected to their own horrific losses. Tang finds himself helpless to protect his daughter from being ensnared by the brutalities of war and laments the fate that befalls his sister-in-law when she is victimized. A devastating command from Japanese officer Second Lieutenant Ida Osamu (Kohata Ryu) further complicates their plight, as he demands one hundred women be handed over as "comfort women," a dire reality announced with tearful resignation by Rabe and Jiang to the gathered refugees.
In a heartbreaking twist, Kadokawa is powerless as he witnesses the devastation inflicted upon Xiaojiang and other women, whose lives are extinguished under the weight of trauma. Compounding his frustration, he observes the execution of Tang's sister-in-law, who succumbs to madness, leading to a poignant moment of introspection amid the horror.
As the story unfolds, Rabe is summoned back to Germany due to the diplomatic strain his efforts are causing with Japan. In a selfless act, Tang opts to remain behind, trading places with a Chinese soldier in a desperate bid to protect his family. This poignant choice reverberates throughout the narrative, illustrating the depth of sacrifice in such dark times.
With the Japanese military intensifying their hunt for former soldiers, a relentless cycle of betrayal and tragedy looms. Shunzi's hard-fought survival leads him into further peril as he is recognized and apprehended. Yet in a moment of solidarity, Jiang bravely orchestrates a ruse to rescue Shunzi, presenting herself as his wife while Xiaodouzi plays their son. This act of defiance brings with it heavy consequences, leading to a heartrending plea for Kadokawa to end Jiang's suffering before she meets a fate far worse.
The climax reaches its emotional peak when Kadokawa, now devoid of hope and consumed by guilt, faces the ramifications of his choices, ultimately leading to a tragic end. As he releases Shunzi and Xiaodouzi from their grim fate, surrendering to the inevitability of death, his act of mercy is overshadowed by his own despair as he chooses to end his own suffering.
As the credits roll, we learn that Mrs. Tang lived to an old age, just as Ida Osamu did; an unsettling reminder that, amidst the horrors of history, some survive while the scars remain etched in memory.
