We are all different, but we can also be alike in many ways...especially when it comes to loving, lying, or feeling fear.
That was the moral I took away from The Flowers of War, a film that, more than being a war‑historical drama, uses that genre merely as a pretext to teach us life lessons we should never overlook.
The movie tells the story of a group of Christian schoolgirls and a group of prostitutes who are forced to live together inside a church in China during the Japanese invasion in World War II. Both groups mediate their relationship through John Miller, a supposed Catholic priest portrayed by Christian Bale.
Of course, the contradictions between the two groups arise quickly, and this becomes one of the central points of the film—how they gradually resolve their differences.
Anyone who has read about the Japanese invasion of China will know that the brutality of the Japanese soldiers toward Chinese civilians was overwhelming. Therefore, from the very beginning of the film I was expecting scenes that would expose such behavior.
At some point I hoped nothing too disturbing would appear, but unfortunately it had to be that way. On one hand, the scenes were difficult to watch because of their dramatic weight, but on the other hand they were necessary, since I believe the film would not have reflected the true historical character of those events otherwise.
In my view, the most brilliant performances were precisely those of the actors who played the Japanese soldiers. They managed to make me feel the same repulsion I have felt when reading books about these events.
That doesn’t mean the rest of the main cast did poorly. Although I must say this was not Christian Bale’s best performance for me. This time I found him somewhat caricatured. Perhaps it was simply that his character, an American among so many Asians, didn’t quite fit in. Or maybe the other actors were so outstanding that they left Bale far behind.
As I mentioned, love and fear serve as the driving forces behind the changes in our characters. We also get exquisitely staged battle scenes, as well as moments of joy and sorrow intertwined—moments that will inevitably bring tears to more than one viewer.
If you’ve seen it, let me know if you agree with me. If not, well, what are you waiting for?
English isn't my native language. Text translated with DeepL
Rating: 95/100
