"During Japan's savage conquest of Nanking, an American missionary and a German Nazi become unlikely allies in a desperate mission to shield Chinese civilians from one of history's darkest chapters."

SYNOPSIS:

"Safety Zone" tells the extraordinary true story of George A. Fitch, who in 1937 faced a moral crucible in the ancient city of Nanking. As local director of the YMCA and son of Presbyterian missionaries, Fitch had dedicated his life to serving China. When Japanese forces approached the capital, he faced a choice between safety and conscience - ultimately choosing to remain as others fled, compelled by both faith and duty to protect the vulnerable.

In an unlikely alliance, Fitch joined forces with John Rabe, a German Nazi Party leader. Together, with a dozen other Westerners, they established the Nanking Safety Zone, converting embassy buildings and university grounds into a sanctuary that would ultimately shelter 250,000 Chinese civilians.

But their real test came after Nanking fell. What began as military conquest descended into an orgy of violence that would shock the world. The Japanese military embarked on a systematic campaign of rape, torture, and mass murder that would claim over 300,000 lives - a death toll exceeding the later atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

Against this backdrop of horror unfolds a love story between Ming Chow, a proud Chinese officer whose hatred of Westerners masks deeper wounds, and Mei Lan, a Ginling College student whose connection to Fitch reveals long-buried secrets. Their romance blooms amid devastation, their determination to survive matched only by their growing love.

Fitch's struggle to protect both his Chinese charges and his own humanity drives him to increasingly desperate acts of courage. Haunted by the fate of Ming's surrendered troops, he fights to save Mei Lan while earning the respect of a people who have every reason to distrust foreigners. The Safety Zone Committee members wage their battle not with weapons, but with protests, petitions, and the power of bearing witness - secretly documenting atrocities that the Japanese military sought to hide from history.

"Safety Zone" is more than a war story - it's a testament to moral courage in the face of overwhelming evil. Through the darkest hours of one of history's greatest atrocities, a small band of Westerners chose to stand against barbarity with nothing but their convictions. Their legacy reminds us that even in humanity's darkest hours, individual acts of courage can light the way toward hope.