Nanking (2007) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Foreign residents document the violence in Nanking and struggle to shelter civilians as the Safety Zone's protection proves incomplete.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Witnesses as Nanking Faces Attack

Foreign residents introduce their perspectives as Japanese forces advance. Reports of violence and executions reveal the growing danger to civilians.

Key Events

• Foreign Residents Record the Crisis — Foreign residents begin recording events as Japanese forces advance toward Nanking. Characters: George Fitch, Bob Wilson, Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe Location: Nanking
• Fitch Frames an Unfolding Catastrophe — Fitch explains that their account captures only part of a catastrophe still unfolding. Characters: George Fitch Location: Nanking
• Wilson Describes Nanking as Home — Wilson, who grew up in China, describes Nanking as home. Characters: Bob Wilson Location: Nanking
• Vautrin's College Role — Vautrin is introduced as dean of Ginling Women's College. Characters: Minnie Vautrin Location: Ginling Women's College
• Rabe Recounts His China Years — Rabe recounts his long life and business career in China. Characters: John Rabe Location: China

A Refuge Takes Shape

Foreigners debate how to help and propose a Safety Zone for refugees. Vautrin guides women and children toward shelter as the city falls.

Key Events

• Reports Reveal Civilian Danger — Reports of violence and executions make the danger to civilians increasingly clear. Characters: George Fitch, Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe Location: Nanking
• Foreigners Debate How to Help — Fitch, Vautrin, and other foreigners consider ways to help civilians. Characters: George Fitch, Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe Location: Nanking
• Safety Zone Proposal Sent — Foreigners send Japanese authorities a proposal to establish a refugee Safety Zone. Characters: George Fitch, Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe Location: Nanking
• Vautrin Guides Refugees — Vautrin guides women and children seeking shelter toward the zone. Characters: Minnie Vautrin Location: Safety Zone

The Zone Fails to Shield Everyone

The zone fills with civilians, including disarmed Chinese soldiers in civilian clothes. Despite assurances that the men will be spared, soldiers take groups away for execution, while civilians are also seized as suspects.

Key Events

• Refugees Gather in the Zone — After Nanking falls, the Safety Zone becomes a refuge, though it cannot protect everyone. Characters: George Fitch, Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe Location: Safety Zone
• Disarmed Men Seek Shelter — Chinese soldiers discard uniforms and enter the zone in civilian clothes. Characters: John Rabe, George Fitch Location: Safety Zone
• Promise to Spare Men Broken — Despite a promise to spare disarmed men, soldiers seize groups and march them away for execution. Characters: John Rabe, George Fitch Location: Safety Zone
• Civilians Seized as Suspects — An order treats adult men as possible plain-clothes soldiers, leading to civilian seizures. Characters: John Rabe, George Fitch Location: Nanking

Protection Amid Continuing Abuse

Public gestures of benevolence conceal violence inside the refugee compound, and Rabe and Fitch challenge soldiers in attempts to protect people. The occupiers then seek to close the camps, and Vautrin learns that a woman she urged home was raped.

Key Events

• Public Benevolence Masks Abuse — Newsmen distribute food and coins while soldiers rape women elsewhere in the compound. Characters: John Rabe, George Fitch Location: Refugee compound
• Rabe and Fitch Challenge Soldiers — Rabe and Fitch challenge soldiers and officials and try to shield people. Characters: John Rabe, George Fitch Location: Refugee compound
• Camps Ordered to Close — In January, occupiers seek to close the camps and send residents back to devastated homes. Characters: Minnie Vautrin Location: Refugee camps
• Vautrin Learns of the Consequences — Vautrin learns that a woman she urged to go home was raped soon afterward. Characters: Minnie Vautrin Location: Refugee camp
• Vautrin Vows Not to Send Women Home — Vautrin vows never again to pressure women to leave the camp. Characters: Minnie Vautrin Location: Refugee camp
• Threat Remains Unresolved — The account ends with further massacre still a threat as foreigners struggle to protect civilians. Characters: George Fitch, Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe Location: Nanking

Story Breakdown

• Foreign Witnesses — The film introduces foreign residents' accounts as the Japanese advance and the crisis unfolds.
  • Fitch's Account — Fitch presents their record as only part of a catastrophe still unfolding.
  • Nanking as Home — Wilson describes Nanking as home after growing up in China.
• Civic Leadership — Vautrin and Rabe are introduced through their roles and histories in China.
  • Vautrin at Ginling — Vautrin is identified as dean of Ginling Women's College.
  • Rabe in China — Rabe recounts his long life and business career in China.
• Rising Civilian Danger — Reports of violence and executions make the danger facing civilians increasingly clear.
  • Violence Reported — Reports describe violence as war spreads and Nanking faces attack.
  • Executions Feared — Reports of executions sharpen concern for civilians.
• Safety Zone Effort — Foreigners organize a proposed refuge and direct people seeking shelter toward it.
  • Proposal Debated — Fitch, Vautrin, and other foreigners debate how to help.
  • Refugees Guided — Vautrin guides women and children toward the zone.
• Broken Protection — The refuge cannot shield everyone, and assurances to protect disarmed men are broken.
  • Disarmed Men Enter — Chinese soldiers discard their uniforms and enter the zone in civilian clothes.
  • Men Taken Away — Soldiers tie groups together and march them away for execution despite a promise to spare them.
• Abuse and Resistance — Violence continues inside the compound while foreign committee members try to intervene.
  • Benevolence Conceals Abuse — Food and coins are distributed publicly while women are raped elsewhere in the compound.
  • Foreigners Challenge Soldiers — Rabe and Fitch confront soldiers and officials in attempts to protect people.
• Vautrin's Resolve — The threat of camp closures and a rape after a woman is sent home change Vautrin's approach.
  • Camps Face Closure — Occupiers seek to send refugees back to devastated homes.
  • No More Pressure — After learning of the rape, Vautrin vows not to pressure women to leave the camp.
• Unresolved Threat — The account closes with civilians still in danger and the foreigners' protective efforts continuing.
  • Further Massacre Threat — The possibility of further massacre remains unresolved.
  • Protection Continues — Foreigners continue struggling to protect civilians amid continuing danger.

Directed by

Dan Sturman, Bill Guttentag

Key Cast

• Hugo Armstrong — John Magee
• Rosalind Chao — Chang Yu Zheng
• Stephen Dorff — Lewis Smythe
• John Getz — George Fitch
• Mariel Hemingway — Minnie Vautrin