Movie Review of John Rabe Directed by Florian Gallenberger

Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage

JOHN RABE MOVIE REVIEW

john rabe

Directed by: Florian Gallenberger
Running time: 134 min. in Chinese, French and German with English subtitles
Release date: May 21, 2010 (Limited)
Genre: Drama, Art/Foreign, Biopic and War
Distributor: Strand Releasing
MPAA Rating: Not rated

JOHN RABE is a period piece that episodically examines the life of a German businessman John Rabe, who is best known for his efforts to stop the atrocities of the Japanese army during the Nanking Occupation. He set up the Nanking Safety Zone, sheltering approximately 200,000 Chinese people from murder during the Nanking Massacre of 1937.

This epic movie opens during the time setting of July 1937, the beginning of the Sino-Japanese war. John Rabe is brilliantly portrayed by Ulrich Tukur, and he is the focus of this movie. He and his wife Dora (Dogmar Manzel) are members of the Nazi party. He is the wealthy director/manager of the Siemans AG China Corporation subsidiary. However, Rabe finds that transferring management to his successor Jochen Flieb (Mathias Herrmann) and returning back to Germany troubles him. The Imperial Japanese Army bombings are taking a toll on Peking, Shanghai and now Nanking.

This film is based upon Rabe's wartime diaries from the fall and winter of 1937. Many Westerners living in the city at that time, conducting trade or missionary trips were forced to flee or take refuge. As the Japanese army approaches Nanking and bombings begin, all but 22 foreigners flee the city. With a total of 15 Americans, European missionaries and businessmen forming part of a group, Rabe is elected leader of the organized International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone. The reason of his position stems from his status as a member of the Nazi party and the existence of the German-Japanese bilateral Anti-Comintern Pact. This organization creates the Nanking Safety Zone to provide Chinese refugees with food and shelter from the impending Japanese slaughter and atrocities.

Most major characters in this movie are historically accurate. Steve Buscemi gives a magnificent performance as a sarcastic Dr. Robert O. Wilson, a man torn between his hippocratic oath and anger. However, there are some fictional characters such as Valerie Dupres (Anne Consigny) who is a member of the Nanking Safety Zone committee with Rabe and Dr. Wilson. Consigny gives an outstanding performance as Valerie Dupres. This character served as a substitute for the real Minnie Vautrin director of the Ginling Girls College.

Emphasizing certain historically important elements of a person's life can truly make social commentary. It also creates drama. John Rabe proves to be a marketable film. Additionally, international celebrities such as Daniel Bruhl, Jingchu Zhang, Gottfried John, Teruyuki Kagawa, Yu Fanf, Akira Emoto, and Shaun Lawton are featured as cast members.

This is a must see film.

FILM RATING (A-)