The last line of defence
(Important note:I won't look up how historically accurate this depiction is, so everything below is based 100% on the film)
The Japanese army raged relatively unchecked across northern China, crushing the tiny, weak forces that stood against it. As Chinese soldiers fled towards the British-protected Shanghai, they were caught and executed by their own as deserters, the Japanese, who showed no mercy to the enemy... and ultimately, turned away from Shanghai by armed British troops operating under a makeshift peace treaty that meant no Japanese could enter, as long as Chinese soldiers didn't retreat there.
For the handful of Chinese we're introduced to at the beginning, separated from their unit whilst heading to the last line of defence by Chinese troops, there was little hope, as only deserters and the dead got separated.
Being captured by their own and made do the "traitors' work" of repairing defences under threat of sniper fire, these few men - a mere boy, one of them - are soon forced to flee, but to see their comrades slaughtered as they ran... is that really an option?
But to stay means to kill. How can a simple farmer kill another human being?
And so, the 3 day battle changes each of them; we see how men bond as brothers in life and death situations; how a few soldiers could inspire an entire nation to rise up off its knees and fight.
As for the actual film: well, it's amazing (but be sure not to miss the necessary exposition explaining why the Japanese can't just bomb the building, or you'll think there was a serious plot-hole (there wasn't!).
The running time is well over 2 hours yet it never drags, and not a single moment feels wasted.
It used to be that China envied Hollywood's war epics, but the tide may well be turning.
Definitely recommended.
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