The Flowers of War (2011) – Filming Locations
Drama / History / War · Directed by Zhang Yimou · Starring Christian Bale, Ni Ni
A Westerner finds refuge with a group of women in a church during Japan's rape of Nanking in 1937. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.
Where was The Flowers of War filmed?
- Nanjing, China, Nanjing – Opening scenes of the Japanese invasion and siege of Nanjing; street warfare and destruction. The film is set in Nanjing during the 1937 Japanese occupation, and Zhang Yimou filmed extensively in the actual historical city to capture the atmosphere of wartime devastation
- Shanghai, China, Shanghai – Pre-invasion Shanghai sequences and transition scenes. Opening sequences set in Shanghai before the protagonist's journey to Nanjing were filmed in Shanghai's historic districts
- Nanjing, China, Nanjing – Interior and exterior of the church where the protagonist takes refuge with the schoolgirls. A reconstructed or real church location served as the central refuge setting where most of the film's dramatic tensions unfold
- Nanjing, China, Nanjing – Street scenes, neighborhoods under occupation, and various exterior locations throughout the siege. Multiple locations throughout Nanjing's old city were used to depict the Japanese occupation and wartime conditions during the Nanjing Massacre period