Empire of War – Der letzte Widerstand (2012)

Empire of War – Der letzte Widerstand: Directed by Xiaogang Feng. With Guoli Zhang, Hanyu Zhang, Wei Fan, Yuanzheng Feng. A deadly drought in 1942 takes its toll on central China’s Henan province during the war against Japan.

“A tamer version of my review in desensitized words: u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGood film, couldu0026#39;ve been a great film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA rather controlled and somber depiction of a dark chapter in modern history, subtly echoing another tragedy that happened 16 years later. Surprisingly un-judgmental and un-sentimental for a historical film recreating despair and lowest possible form of human existence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFeng presents the multiple layers of clues and facts that lead to the ultimate tolls almost as-matter-of-factly, leaving the audience putting together the puzzles and drawing their own conclusions, which is a rather clever way of avoiding censorship and engaging the audience.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCould have been A LOT grittier and more affecting. The acting is powerful in this film. However for a film depicting a major famine that claimed over 3 million lives in recent history, not much huger is shown as visuals in the film, most of the lingering hunger is talked about/acted out (as opposed to being displayed visually) which reduces the general affecting power of the film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eXu Fan and Zhang Guo-Li are amazing in this film with their acting. Xu gives her most powerhouse performance yet, portraying the tough bottom- feeder hillbilly b*tch who would attempt anything/everything in defending her and her familyu0026#39;s rights to live. However for a country woman whou0026#39;s been starving for over 100 days and more than willing to sell her bottom half for a couple of crackers, whatu0026#39;s with her double- chin? (think Jennifer Lawrenceu0026#39;s face in The Hunger Game – she can act all she wants but Iu0026#39;m sorry, girlfriend is just NOT that hungry) What TF happens to her makeup artist team and special visual effects people?!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAdrien Brody is effectively engaging as a very eager T.H. White whou0026#39;s desperately trying to expose the truth, whether driven by his journalist instincts, Pulitzer, or a genuine sympathy for the poor and depraved. However donu0026#39;t even get me to start with Tim Robbins – why is he even in the film??? The couple of scenes heu0026#39;s in are cringe-inducing. Even if you edit them out altogether it would not affect the storyu0026#39;s flow whatsoever.”