Marking the 80th anniversary of the brutal massacre in Nanjing by Japanese invaders during WWⅡ, Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation and A + E Networks in the US have co-produced a one-hour docu-drama The Scars of Nanking: the brave who stayed behind.
Poster of The Scars of Nanking: the brave who stayed behind
This documentary that was co-produced by China and the US didn’t apply the traditional mode of the massacre genre. It simply tells the stories witnessed by dozens of foreigners who stayed in Nanjing during the brutal massacre and protected local citizens in any possible ways.
It is the first time that the Massacre has been shot in westerners’ perspectives. And it is also the first time that Nanking Massacre has been presented on the screen of western mainstream media. More audiences in the world will know what happened 80 years ago in Nanjing through this documentary.
Today, we introduce you another excerpt of the U.S. version of The Scars of Nanking.
On December 13, 1937, Japan occupied Nanjing. Following the occupation, one of the most brutal massacres in human history started. Killing, raping, slaughtering had turned Nanjing into a living hell. Everyone just wanted to leave this place. However, dozens of Westerners chose to stay in Nanjing and established the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone, providing shelters for about 250, 000 civilians.
Their letters and photos have become solid evidences of Japan’s killing and raping in Nanjing. Their bravery and help are cross boundaries and need to be remembered.
The safety zone covered an area of less than 4 k㎡, but over 20 refugee camps were set inside of it. University campuses, embassies and hospitals were all included in the safety zone.
“They are looting and burning their way here. The point is we must limit any violence and protect the Chinese population.” “I personally feel that I cannot leave.” Wilson, John Rabe, John Magee, Minnie Vautrin risked their lives and tried everything to ask for international support during Nanking Massacre.
Their letters and dairy are very descriptive about Nanking Massacre. These words reemerge the vivid pictures of Japan’s looting, burning, killing and raping, things that made people terrified and frightened even just by hearing. Yet it happened, happened 80 years ago!
