The Japanese subjugation of the capital of China in 1937 and 1938 has been called "the Rape of Nanjing" and "the Nanjing Atrocity." Considered among the most brutal, sadistic acts of war in modern history, it caused psychological repercussions to succeeding generations of Chinese.

Nanjing Nightmares recounts the historical events leading up to the terrifying occupation: the growth of China’s capital city, Nanjing; the expansionist ambitions of Japan; and the large Japanese army intent on revenge after meeting fierce resistance by the Chinese army in the defense of Shanghai.

Archival film footage depicts the full horror of the genocide in Nanjing, in which some 300,000 people were killed and 80,000 women were raped over a six-week period. These distant wartime events take on a deeper meaning when the film focuses on the effect the occupation had on one Nanjing family, the Wangs. Wang Ping recounts how his father and mother survived the war by hiding in the International Safety Zone set up by the American and German embassies. However, the terror his mother experienced during the Japanese occupation and the sadness caused by the loss of several family members affected her so severely that she became mentally ill. Her granddaughter speaks movingly about how this depression affects her family even today. The film shares the great-grandson’s remembrance of his great-grandmother looking under the bed for "Japanese devils" every night before bedtime, and paints a picture of the mental anguish caused by the Rape of Nanjing has continues today.

Contains graphic images. For mature audiences.

Association for Asian Studies, 2002