Director Roger Spottiswoode attends a premiere ceremony in Beijing on April 1, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

"The Children of Huang Shi," a heartwarming film set in 1930's war-torn China, will open to Chinese audiences on April 3.

The 40 million US dollar project was produced by studios in China, Australia, and Germany. It centers on a young British pacifist, an eyewitness to the Nanjing Massacre, who saved over 60 Chinese orphans during the Japanese invasion with the assistance of several courageous friends.

Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the film stars top international actors such as Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Myers, Australian actress Radha Mitchell, Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat and Malaysian-Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh.

The film premiered at the end of March in Huangshi, Hubei Province alongside a charity event to promote the film's theme of humanitarianism.

Based on true events, "The Children of Huang Shi" tells how a young English journalist, George Hogg (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), 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.

On the journey, Hogg befriended Chen Hansheng (played by Chow Yun-Fat), a Chinese guerilla fighter and Madame Wang (played by Michelle Yeoh), a survivor from the upper class. He fell in love with Lee (played by Radha Mitchell), a brave Australian nurse who gives medical help to China's wounded.

Hollywood director Roger Spottiswoode said he was drawn to the story ten years ago and through collaboration with writer James MacManus, he was finally able to realize it onscreen.

"While I was interested in it ten years ago, I found the story James MacManus had done twenty years ago, and it has taken that long to bring it together. It is one of those things. I've been passionate about George Hogg for ten years. It takes a long time to put out an independent film."

Spottiswoode 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 an 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."

As with other anti-Japanese domestic war movies, Spottiswoode hopes the film will help people around the world learn of China's troubles during World War II and -- particularly the Japanese -- face up to the past and promote neighborly international relations. 

"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. "