maclaine
Well-known
I saw this last night, and was moved by it, so I thought I'd pass it on. It's a movie about the 1937 invasion of Nanking, China by the Japanese. The subject matter is difficult, and the way director Lu Chan weaves the stories of the various characters into a whole is really well done.
The whole film is shot in black and white, and what struck me the most was the general low contrast look it all had. Much of the film was shot with the lens wide open, as well, even outdoors. It gives the film a more chaotic documentary/photojournalist feel.
Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9td_3P3w1S4
And here's an interview with the cinematographer. He states that it was shot on Kodak color negative film, then transferred to black and white, which I thought was an interesting approach. He also says something interesting about why he chose to shoot it in black and white:
"Tell us what was behind the decision to shoot in black and white instead of color.
After reading the screenplay, my first reaction was that it should be in black and white. I thought it was a film about faces--the faces of the people who survived or died in the war. The faces showed the inner thoughts of the people in the war. They were abstract, but poetic and sacred at the same time. Compared to color, black and white is purer and thus more suitable for the reflection of people's inner thoughts. Besides, as the film was about the massacre, there would be many violent and bloody scenes. Shooting in color would accentuate the violence which I am afraid would be too strong for the audience."
It is playing a very limited run here in Seattle, and I don't believe it's available for rental at the moment, but if it's playing near you, I recommend it.
The whole film is shot in black and white, and what struck me the most was the general low contrast look it all had. Much of the film was shot with the lens wide open, as well, even outdoors. It gives the film a more chaotic documentary/photojournalist feel.
Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9td_3P3w1S4
And here's an interview with the cinematographer. He states that it was shot on Kodak color negative film, then transferred to black and white, which I thought was an interesting approach. He also says something interesting about why he chose to shoot it in black and white:
"Tell us what was behind the decision to shoot in black and white instead of color.
After reading the screenplay, my first reaction was that it should be in black and white. I thought it was a film about faces--the faces of the people who survived or died in the war. The faces showed the inner thoughts of the people in the war. They were abstract, but poetic and sacred at the same time. Compared to color, black and white is purer and thus more suitable for the reflection of people's inner thoughts. Besides, as the film was about the massacre, there would be many violent and bloody scenes. Shooting in color would accentuate the violence which I am afraid would be too strong for the audience."
It is playing a very limited run here in Seattle, and I don't believe it's available for rental at the moment, but if it's playing near you, I recommend it.
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