The Children of Huang Shi (2008)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writers:

Jane Hawksley (writer)
James MacManus (writer)

Release Date:

3 April 2008 (China)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

War made them orphans, one man made them legends

Plot:

About young British journalist, George Hogg, who with the assistance of a courageous Australian nurse, saves a group of orphaned children during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937.

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Australian | China | British | Journalist

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	George Hogg
Radha Mitchell	...	Lee Pearson
Yun-Fat Chow	...	Chen Hansheng
Michelle Yeoh	...	Mrs. Wang
Guang Li	...	Shi-Kai
Lin Ji	...	Horse Rider
Matt Walker	...	Andy Fisher
Anastasia Kolpakova	...	Duschka
Ping Su	...	Eddie Wei
Imai Hideaki	...	Japanese Officer
Sciichiro Hashimoto	...	Urbane Japanese Officer
Shinichi Takashima	...	Hostile Kempetai Officer
Xing Mang	...	Young Communist
Ruixiang Zhu	...	Japanese Officer II
Yuelong Fang	...	Rou Ding

Also Known As:

Children of the Silk Road (Australia)
Die Kinder der Seidenstrasse (Germany)
Escape from Huang Shi (Singapore: English title)
Huang Shi de hai zi (China: Mandarin title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing and violent content.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

Australia | China | Germany

Language:

English | Japanese | Mandarin

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:M | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:M | Mexico:B15 | UK:15 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Chedun Studios, Shanghai, China

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Trivia:

Marks the first official co-production between Australia and China.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: There's several scenes of Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 'Zero' fighter planes strafing Chinese civilians and Nationalist soldiers in 1937-38. The Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter plane would make its combat debut over Chungking, China in August 1940. Prior to that time, the Japanese were employing imperial Army Nakajima Ki-27 fighter planes with the fixed landing gear and the imperial Navy Mitsubishi A5M, also with fixed landing gear, later codenamed, "Claude", by the Allies. The Allies later codenamed the Ki-27, "Nate".

Quotes:

[first lines]
George Hogg: Shoot some hoops?
Andy Fisher: No thanks. I have to save my strength, I'm getting married on Tuesday.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-05-24)" (2008)

This is a top quality movie

This is a top quality movie; it is inspirational. Jonathan Rhys Meyers' acting was superb. The scenery was beautiful and the children were touching. I highly recommend this movie. Here was a true hero in every sense of the word. George Hogg risked his life to save the lives of innocent children. He also risked his life to publicize the truth. His parents were courageous pacifists. He struggled with the dilemma of when pacifism is appropriate and when fighting back is appropriate. Yun-Fat Chow and Michelle Yeoh were also outstanding in their roles. It was interesting and informative regarding a period of history and location that is not that widely known about in the West.