History Film / FlowersOfWar

* SexyWalk: Done to an astounding, almost ludicrous effect by Mo. A very drunk John appreciates this immensely.

* RareGuns: One of the few pieces of media to actually depict Japanese soldiers using the relatively unknown Type 11 light machine gun, rather than the more iconic Type 96. Justified, as they were just introducing the new gun into the arsenal at the time the film is set in.

* ObligatoryWarCrimeScene: The Japanese forces are shown committing various atrocities left and right.

* NonNaziSwastika: A party of volunteers from the Red Swastika, a Chinese humanitarian society, can be glimpsed in the streets of Nanjing.

* UnproblematicProstitution: {{Subverted}}. At first the young prostitutes come off as a cheerful lot, happy with their lives. Then it turns out some were sold off to the brother before they were even in their ''teens'' or tricked into joining. One speaks hopefully of buying her way out too.

A 2011 historical drama film made by Zhang Yimou, '''''The Flowers of War''''' (or ''Nanjing Heroes''/''13 Flowers of Nanjing'') is set in 1937 during [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Rape of Nanjing]] during the UsefulNotes/SecondSinoJapaneseWar. An American mortician, John Miller (Creator/ChristianBale), is caught in the conflict and seeks shelter at a church full of terrified Catholic school girls, as do a number of prostitutes who take up residence in the church's cellar.

A 2011 historical drama film made by Zhang Yimou, '''''The Flowers of War''''' (or ''Nanjing Heroes''/''13 Flowers of Nanjing'') is set in 1937 during [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Rape of Nanjing]] during the [[UsefulNotes/SecondSinoJapaneseWar]]. An American mortician, John Miller (Creator/ChristianBale), is caught in the conflict and seeks shelter at a church full of terrified Catholic school girls, as do a number of prostitutes who take up residence in the church's cellar.

A 2011 historical drama film made by Zhang Yimou, '''''The Flowers of War''''' (or ''Nanjing Heroes''/''13 Flowers of Nanjing'') is set in 1937 during [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Rape of Nanjing]]. An American mortician, John Miller (Creator/ChristianBale), is caught in the conflict and seeks shelter at a church full of terrified Catholic school girls, as do a number of prostitutes who take up residence in the church's cellar.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Major Li takes on far more Japanese soldiers, knowing it will end in his death. George and the prostitutes take the places of the girls, [[FateWorseThanDeath fully aware of what's in store for them.]]]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:George and the prostitutes take the places of the girls, [[FateWorseThanDeath fully aware of what's in store for them.]]]]

* OfficerAndAGentleman: Colonel Hasegawa of the Imperial Japanese Army is a cultured officer who puts a stop to the slaughter at the convent by having guards posted outside. Appealing to his humanity only goes so far however, as John finds out. While Hasegawa is better than most Japanese soldiers and may even have personal misgivings about the way the war in China is being fought, his sense of duty compels him to carry out his orders to have the convent girls taken away to become sex slaves for his superiors.

* PuttingOnTheReich: A non-villainous example. Because the Nationalist regime's elite troops were trained and equipped by German advisors, they wore uniforms and used equipment similar to those of the Wehrmacht.

* TakingYouWithMe: Major Li booby-traps himself so that when the Japanese finish him off, his dead body's fall off the building triggers a bunch of hand grenades.

* LesCollaborateurs: Shu's father, Mr. Meng, cooperates with the Japanese, and she despises him for it. He's portrayed sympathetically, though, as he helps Miller to repair the truck [[spoiler:and when he's killed, Miller tells Shu insistently that he was a good man and regrets there was no time to give him a proper burial.]]

* KatanasOfTheRisingSun: The film's antagonists.