The Flowers of War is a 2011 Chinese historical war drama directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Christian Bale as John Miller, the Westerner who takes shelter in a church during Japan's invasion of Nanking. The film is based on the novel "13 Flowers of Nanjing" by Yan Geling.
Miller initially seeks refuge in the church to avoid the chaos and violence outside, but soon comes face to face with a group of schoolgirls and courtesans who have also sought refuge there. As the only man in the church, Miller takes the guise of a priest to put the women at ease, and tries to find ways to protect them as the violence and brutality outside escalate.
The film depicts the atrocities committed by the Japanese army during the occupation of Nanking, including the rape and murder of civilians. As Miller becomes more involved in protecting the women, he becomes emotionally invested in their safety and must confront certain moral dilemmas.
The Flowers of War received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the performances and cinematography, while others criticized the historical inaccuracies and the simplification of complex issues. However, it was a commercial success in China and was selected as the country's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards.