The Flowers of War

"The Flowers of War" begins on December 13, 1937. A group of young convent girls are fleeing for their lives through a besieged Nanjing shrouded in mist. The first words to be heard are those of lead girl Shujuan; "Everybody was running that day but no one could escape the thick fog." It feels somewhat odd to have such a young actress reflect on events long before her lifetime yet her opening monologue succeeds in immediately setting a tense mood.