The Flowers of War

Rating: Null/10 (9 May 2013)

Before I analysis The Flowers of War, one thing for sure, there is no doubt that a classic film made by Yimou Zhang. The continuation of the fifth generation director makes traditional creative mode and express the individual suffering and choice in the history circumstance. Yimou Zhang shows a story of the thirteen fortitude women in The Flowers of War. In addition, every an important contemporary director has its own process visual images of a gimmick, Yimou Zhnag's unique is that photography and color, it has highlight expression in this film. If The Flowers of War made by others directors to shoot, it must be another appearance and the color might be black or dark. But, Yimou Zhang was brave who picked out the gaudy color under the background of a brutal war. Also, he selected script from active demand novelist Geling Yan's work. The story expresses to the audience, in 1937, the rape of Nanjing, Simultaneously, this fictitious drama about convent students and whores are hiding together in the church. Thus, whole film is shooting around the church.
Therefore, ever since their appearance, these whores have become the focus of this film. In the slow camera, they had heavy made-up, wore different jewel and Chi-Pao as well as leather overcoats. Instructor Lee saw them through sighting telescope. He once focused on Yu mo; Shujuan, a student girl, kept her sight on them, especially Yumo, the most outstanding one. When John, a rascal foreigner, saw them, he couldn't help admiring them. It's certain that, up to now, all these were Yimou Zhang's true skills. He regained his skills in creating female characters. However, this time, the background was set to the Nanjing City during the period of the Republic of China rather than rural areas. By the other hand, the interpersonal relationships between some groups of characters stood careful reading. Firstly, it's the relationship between Shujuan and her traitor father, and it took a significant part of the movie. Secondly, it's the relationship between Yumo and his evil step father who uncover his step-daughter secrete. They were daughters who had fathers but encountered misery and death. The setting of Shujuan and Yumo were internally related from their names to their character. Things changed unexpectedly but were internally correlated. The music tone in this film began with the Japanese folk music of Hometown followed by girl student's choir chants and ended with the Qinghuai jing by whores. They were beautiful but were of completely different senses under different circumstances.
It is generally recognized, the film much more fulfilling than fiction. For example, the glass of church actually played an important visual effect in the film. Also, the main actress; Yumo's Chi-Pao each piece looks like an exquisite embroidery. Those things are reflects the unique aesthetic of Yimou Zhang. However, a number of criticisms around this film, like obvious lack of dramatic climax and using too much colors to express the harrowing story. But, I think since want to show the war from the perspective of women that color, costume, make-up and dialogue style would be stand out women's peculiarity. While, The Flowers of War is a dejected and ungainly piece of storyline, exaggerative and grotesque visual effects are delivered with startling conviction. Therefore, compared to the same kind of patriotic films that this style of precious.
In this film, the soundtrack play an important role, it is attract to audience's eyes the other approach. There are three diverse music go through whole film. Also, are respectively three different means. The first one is Qin huai jing; it is stand for beautiful scenery of Nanjing. The second one is convent poetry that delivers to peace and belief. And the last soundtrack is harrowing, might symbol of the second war and China lost Nanjing at the time. As we know Qigang Cheng's score is effective but goes a bit heavy on the violins.
In conclusion, I think too much moves by The Flowers of War. The director used different individual's angle to display Chinese's patriotism. Such as; whores, students, foreigners and army. At the same time, the writer changed fiction made scenarios more vibrant added Yimou Zhang's aesthetics taste was lends his film unique.