"Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking"
(Documentary -- Canada)
A Real to Reel production, in association with Dadi Entertainment. (International sales: Golden Network, Hong Kong.) Produced, directed by Anne Pick, Bill Spahic. Written by Michael Betcherman.
With: Olivia Cheng, Iris Chang, Shau-Jin Chang, Ying-Ying Chang, Ignatius Ding, Susan Rabiner, Brett Douglas, Barbara Masin, Duan Yue Ping, Yang Xia Ming, Wang Wei Xing, Xia Shu Qin, Kenji Ono, Lei Gui Ying, Yasuji Kaneko, Jing Sheng Hong, Wu Zheng Xi, Ursula Reinhardt, Jeff Kingston, Joseph Wong, Thenkia Lit, Helen Zia, Katsuichi Honda, Hideaki Kase, Sayoko Yamauchi, Ian Smith.
Hagiography fails to undermine a story too powerful to be hidden or muted in "Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking." Making good use of archival footage, docu acts as a primer for those who have not read the late American writer's bestseller about the horrific Japanese massacre in 1937 China. A layer of sentimentality is discouraging, but persevering auds will be appalled and moved by the results of Chang's obsessive work. Feature-length pic has a distinctly tube feel and could comfortably take a trim to fit pubcaster schedules.
Docu opens with thesp Olivia Cheng stranded in the first of several hokey re-enactments from Chang's life, underscored by saccharine music, before informing that the author committed suicide in 2004. Talking heads -- including Chang's family, friends and colleagues -- are less than probing, but the film gains disturbing momentum when dedicating substantial screen time to the overwhelming testimonies of Nanking survivors. However, the final reels, which consider the severe impact of Chang's research on her own mental state, lack rigorous detachment and slide into sentimentality. Helming is pedestrian, but interviews and archival footage carry the narrative over rough patches. Tech credits are OK.
Camera (color/B&W), Russell Gienapp; editor, Marie Lyons Cooper. Reviewed on DVD, Sydney, Feb. 29, 2008. (In Berlin Film Festival -- market). English, Mandarin, Japanese dialogue. Running time: 98 MIN.
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