In 1930s China, Brit journo George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) heads into the heart of the war with Japan. After almost being beheaded in Nanjing, he finds himself reluctantly babysitting a group of orphaned schoolboys in the mountains and falling for their nurse. As danger closes in, Hogg realises he must lead the children 700 miles to safety.
Directed with conviction by Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies) and shot in typically lush style by genius lensman Xiaoding Zhao (House Of Flying Daggers), this is undoubtedly sumptuous, immersive filmcraft. Meyers is at his best here – perfectly suited to the irksome gung ho character of Hogg at the start, visibly becoming more compassionate as things progress. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh also bring weight and class to the cast while the story weaves love, loyalty and wartime heroics together like a classic from Hollywood’s golden age.
But while billed as a true tale (and featuring some of the surviving orphans talking over the end credits), The Children Of The Silk Road stretches the description. In reality, a New Zealander called Rewi Alley was the instigator and leader of the rescue, with Hogg alongside him. Alley has been written out of the proceedings, possibly for dubious political reasons (he was communist and rumoured to be gay). The nurse Hogg falls for was from New Zealand too, but here is played as an American by Radha Mitchell.
It’s creative licence wielded like a cleaver – a real shame because taken on face value the film itself is superb. The fact that it didn’t actually happen like this just gives it a sour aftertaste. An emotionally engaging adventure story told with eye-popping visual flair this remains, but a couple of Kiwis in their rightful places could have made it even better.
