"The Children of Huang Shi"

This movie is absolutely inspiring and touching. It is beautiful how heoric and compassionate individuals such as George Hogg are now portrayed in films to show others that beautiful and great acts of love and kindness are ever happening all around us, in the past, present and into the future. I am so thankful to have had the chance to come to know about a man who performed a profound act of faith, love and courage for 60 orphan boys. There are people like him all over the world today. People like him are our inspiration and keep us hopeful for a better world with more genuinely loving, giving and compassionate people. 

Enjoy the trailer at: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/thechildrenofhuangshi/

The following description of the film is taken from the following website:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/thechildrenofhuangshi/

Nanjing, China, 1937; A journalist looking for lives worth defending; 60 orphaned boys and an unknown journey ahead. War made them orphans, Love made them legends in The Children of Huang Shi.

From April 3, this heartwarming film set in 1930's war-torn China will be available for the Chinese audience.

The 40 million US dollar project was a joint production by studios in China, Australia and Germany. Helmed by Roger Spottiswoode, director of 007 series, Tomorrow Never Dies, this film took more than two years to complete.

"It was a great experience for somebody who is English to come here 70 years after George Hogg and to make a journey into China and try to make a film that we hope will reflect a little bit about your past and of somebody who came from my country."

Based on true events, The Children of Huang Shi tells how a young English journalist, George Hogg, led 60 orphaned boys on an extraordinary journey across almost 1,000 miles of mountains and deserts to safety on the Silk Road. In the process, he came to understand the true meaning of courage, love and responsibility. 

As with other anti-Japanese war movies, the director hopes to help the audience realize the historical truth about the Japanese invasion of China.

"We are historically accurate. Terrible things happened. We try to look honestly at history and I hope more people look at this piece of history. Perhaps Japanese will find themselves coming to terms with their past. Once they do, they will find it easier to move on."

The film also stars top international actors, such as Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Myers, taking the role of George Hogg; Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat, as a Chinese guerilla fighter; Malaysian- Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh as a survivor from the upper class and Australian actress Radha Mitchell as a brave Australian nurse who gives medical help to China's wounded.

The director said one of the major difficulties he confronted when shooting in China was finding child actors. But once he did, he was deeply impressed by the children's performances.

"To find 25 young actors between 5 and 15 who have never done it, and have them be good not as a crowd, but as individuals and real actors, was enormous challenge. We had no idea we would get such wonderful kids. They have no other experience; they are just gifted. Many of them are from poor families, underprivileged. But we found them. They are remarkable. They were with us every day for five months across the country. That was the challenge and reward."

Most of the children upon whom the story is based are still alive today. They are the eye witness of people's suffering during the war. Spottiswoode said with this film he also wants to help the western audience understand the period of history that is long ignored.

"At the moment, this is a piece of history that is hidden from the west, not by anyone in particular, but because it's so far away. And it will be better for everyone when they are more informed."

Unlike many other recent movies featuring the subject of Japanese holocaust in Nanjing, The Children of Huang Shi takes on a different perspective. Instead of demonstrating the cruel and dark side of the war, it casts its shot to the individuals behind the battlefield. And thus it becomes a monument for humanity and internationalism.