The story was moving and inspiring. I did not know about this chapter of China's history and found it fancinating. I saw the movie 2 days ago and cannot forget the impact. Definetly worth seeing.

An Australian/Chinese/German co-production, this is a hollywood-style epic film with an engrossing story and visually appealing landscapes and scenery. The principle actors are handsome and beautiful with hardly a blemish or flaw even when covered by the grit of war. Reminiscent of Ingrid Bergman in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, the setting is the 1937 invasion of China by the Japanese. All the major actors give excellent performances, but Michelle Yeoh as the affluent merchant Mrs. Wang and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the inexperienced Englishman George Hogg are the strongest. Highly recommended for any movie-goer who enjoys things Chinese.

This is one of the best and most emotional pictures of realism of history during Japan's occupation of China. Having been several times to both countries it meant even more. I thought the acting was really well done, scenery and realism spectacular. It is a very poigant story that can't be judged by the merits of the sex or other acts. It is truth and is depicted as such. I would see this movie several times for the truth of history. It also gives the realism of loss of family and the emoitional destruction to persons in war time with out treatment or love. The facts spill over to what our American military have gone through without decent treatment for PTSD as these children all suffered from.

Interesting factual based events, I especially enjoy docum dramas. Excellent performances by virtulllay unknown actors. The children were great, the land scape was breath taking. The narration by the actual people was very moving.

Excellent acting, script and cinematography. Emotionally involving. Slightly too long.