Huang Shi's Children

I don’t know if I had told any of you that I have a thing for watching time pieces that are done during certain time in our history whether they are done in movies or as television shows. And what I mean by that is shows like The Tudors and movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Pride & Prejudice. I am in love with the cinematography of how a certain era can become a beauty piece of art. So, the movie that I am about to talk about, The Children of Huang Shi.

It is starring my favorite boyfriend, Johnathan Rhys Meyers; the man that I will put JRM on the shelf for Chow Yun Fat; my sister who can put a woopin’ on anybody including Chow Yun Fat and Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, and a new comer to me Radha Mitchell.

This movie is center during the Second Sino-Japanese War which from 1937-1945, however, the story take place towards the end of the war. So, allow me to take this movie apart, and let’s start with the war itself.

I had known about the Japan invading China from history text books in high school. (Side bar: boys were including as my subjects to learn about.)  Even with years later I watched the movie “The Last Emperor of China” about Henry Pu Yi, I did recognize nor understand that this event was during the Second Sino-Japanese War.  So, as I was watching The Children of Huang Shi, I was asking myself “Why did Japan invade China?”  The answer that I found was that Japan colonies were on the path to achieving great power status per the 2^nd World War and the Japanese wanted more colonies so they attacked China.

Now that is the shortest answer that I can give to y’all because the very long answer would have involved the history and structure of the Japanese monarchy that was already divided highly into semi-independent kingdom’s and they united by the persona of the Emperor. And there was some shogun leadership stuff somewhere up in all that structure.  Trust me, it was a very long answer to why Japan invaded China.

So, let me now move on to the story of The Children of Huang Shi; and even if you are not a fan of JRM or Chow Young Fat, watch the movie for the story and the inspiration of it. And as I was watching this movie, I started to think about another story that resembles bit and pieces from this movie. On the website Viki.com there is a television show name Inspiring Generation which starts Kim Hyun-Joong, Kim Sung-Oh and Lim Soo-Hyang, is also centered around the Second Sino-Japanese War. What was interesting about this television show was that it was told from the Koreans side and their battle with the Japanese for territory in Shanghai.  I do recommend that you watch the television show for a different perspective of the Sino-Japanese War and it does come with English subtitles.

Let me move on, it is a heart touching story however there was a scene that I was like “Hell naw!” where JRM’s was scared shitless. There was some scene I was like “Nnnooo!” with a few tears for a few of the characters and then there was a scene or two where I was like “Really JRM, really?” “Didn’t you get laid enough in The Tudors?” (I just finished watching season 1 and 2! That Anne has cause me to do so much cussing y’all! I am going to talk about her ass later!!)

Back to the story, I really don’t know how to explain it but to be put in a situation where you need to show that not all foreigners are devils and built a trusting relationship with young boys must be hard in such violent environments. War is traumatizing for anyone who has lived through it and to find friendship and trust in the mist of war is a bright light in total darkness.  The strength and loyalty that was found in this story was beautiful. The thought of not having Chow Yun Fat in a movie where he is not kicking nobody ass was a little disappointing however the fact that he was able to blow up buildings did give me some comfort.

The main character of the movie was Mr. George A. Hogg (played by JRM), an Oxford scholar who became a journalist and was able to get behind the Japanese line to witness what was going on in China.  The characters of Chow Yun Fat and Radha Mitchell put George in a position where he was not in any option to say “no” because they just saved his ass twice and it was done in order to save his (Hogg’s) life a little longer. Why? Because them two were a part of the Chinese rebellious, the Chinese Gung Ho Movement, and they thought that Mr. Hogg’s education could be of some use to them. Michelle Yeoh’s character was the supporter of Mr. Hogg.  Again, I was disappointed in not seeing Michelle kicking somebody ass! But what did strike me was how her character put herself on the line for him (Hogg) to save those boys.

In my research to learn more about Mr. Hogg, I learned more about the journey in which he did with the 60 boys going across the snowed covered mountains to Lanzhow.  I would have like to have known if all 60 boys made it across to the Gansu Province because according to the movie there were only two boys lost. And I understand the four boys that he adapted lived long fruitful lives because of him.

It was sad in both the movie and in doing some research about George A. Hogg that he died one month before the war ended. He was 30 years old. What is lovely that even today, all of Mr. Hogg’s efforts are still recognizes in history in both England and China, with there being a museum and a monument in the Gansu Province thanks to a gentleman named Alley. Alley who befriend Hogg while living in China and with Alley’s help, Hogg was able to make that huge move and get those boys to a safer environment. Alley himself was a part of the Communist Party of China and a key figure in establishing the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives. And stayed somewhat active in the Chinese political rim until his death in 1987. Something that the movie did not share to the viewers.

Overall, The Children of Huang Shi was a beauty story.  And it is story of self-sacrifice and putting others before you. Knowing that your love ones and strangers are safe can be rewarding itself.