The Flowers Of War

Mr. Meng (Cao Kefan) asks John Miller (Christian Bale) for help saving his daughter.

Yu Mo (Ni Ni) describes her past to John Miller (Christian Bale).

Yu Mo (Ni Ni) and John Miller (Christian Bale) share a tender moment.

Yu Mo (Ni Ni) drives a hard bargain with John Miller (Christian Bale).

John Miller (Christian Bale) greets new visitors to the cathedral.

Major Li (Tong Da Wei) leads the Chinese army in an attack.

Yu Mo (Ni Ni) seduces John Miller (Christian Bale).

Director Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern, Ju Dou, Hero, House of the Flying Daggers) tells an epic story of love and sacrifice in THE FLOWERS OF WAR, starring Christian Bale and introducing Ni Ni. The film, set during Japan's 1937 invasion of China, is told from a young girl's point of view, not as a history lesson, but as an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit. Bale stars as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic church. There he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese.

The film, set during Japan’s 1937 invasion of China, is told from a young girl's point of view, not as a history lesson, but as an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit. Christian Bale stars as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic church. There he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese.

Chinese sex workers in 1937 volunteer to replace university students as escorts for invading Japanese soldiers.