Film crew members are seen at the premere of "City of Life and Death" in Bejing April 16.

With an average age of 35, Chinese filmmakers, led by talented director Lu Chuan, have shown their own understanding of the Nanjing Massacre more than 70 years ago as "City of Life and Death" premiered in Beijing Thursday -- one week ahead of its global release.

"We don't want that when people think of that period of history, only some dry figures come up to their mind. We hope people will see some particular faces and their expressions and characteristics," said Lu at the premiere ceremony.

"City of Life and Death" focuses on Chinese soldiers and civilians' fight against invaders before and after the Nanjing Massacre in 1937.

Director Lu Chuan is seen at the premere of "City of Life and Death" in Bejing April 16.

It took four years and cost 80 million yuan (about 11.7 million U.S. dollars) to finish the work, whose original Chinese title is "Nanjing! Nanjing!" More than 20,000 college students volunteered in the film.

Cinematographer Cao Yu had a solid working relationship with Luback in "Kekexili: Mountain Patrol" (2004). The 34-year-old Cao shot the entire film in black-and-white to achieve a documentary-like style.

"During the four years after making 'Kekexili', we were trying to find a more powerful and massive subject. ... We chose black and white because we want to revive that particular time of history as best as we can and bring out the solid atmosphere."

When he visited a museum for project research, Cao said he was overwhelmed by the steadiness and strength that showed through the eyes of the Chinese people before death in some rare pictures taken by Japanese journalists.

"I can see the fortitude and strength in their eyes. That's what we wanted to convey through a film," said Cao.