Parents' Guide to

The Flowers of War

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Graphic rape and killing battle heroism and sacrifice.

Movie R 2012 146 minutes
The Flowers of War Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 15+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 18+
Visually beautiful film. Good story line with unexpected acts of heroism during a desperate and savage period of chinese history. Some shockingly violent scenes even if never gratuitous . Positive and negative sides of human sexuality are very present but as with the violence, it is never gratuitous and is indeed in some appropriate scenes shown with sensitivity and aesthetically
age 16+

reflecting the brutality of Japanese

I think it's a movie which reflecting the brutality of Japanese soildiers when Nanking is occupied by them;

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (1):

THE FLOWERS OF WAR is often repellent and sometimes touching. It presents a constantly shifting perspective -- from horrific battle and rape scenes to sentimental episodes of romance, self-sacrifice, and redemption. Though the characters are mostly one-dimensional and cliche-driven, the film is so beautifully shot and the odds stacked so heavily in favor of John Miller and his charges that it's almost a "guilty pleasure" in which the audience roots for, identifies with, and triumphs along with the heroes.

The movie informs viewers that more than 200,000 people were killed in Nanking. It seems clear that the filmmakers were trying to convey how devastating an atrocity this episode in history was. But The Flowers of War tells such an emotionally manipulative story that's so lacking in subtlety and heavy on caricature that it falls well short of its goal.

Movie Details

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