China makes at least a dozen anti-Japanese propaganda films a year, to remind their citizens and the rest of the world what Japan did during World War II. In Harm's Way, A.K.A The Hidden Soldier, A.K.A The Chinese Widow, A.K.A ???????, is yet another of these features, the movie's varying titles coinciding with the many hats the film wears. This is a propaganda feature, a war epic, a love story and a family drama, all rolled into one, and as I'm sure one can imagine, the multiple themes, plots and goals of this feature, don't always have the opportunity to appropriately flourish.
The opening sees Jack (Emile Hirsch) being interviewed by his commanders after his return from China, wherein he recollects his experiences abroad (without narration). This is potentially the first major issue with the movie; a pivotal narrative event is revealed here, that inadvertently evaporates some of the tension. It would be like reading a murder mystery, and having the name of the killer revealed on page one.
At times, it is obvious the movie is filmed on a tight budget, the attack on Japan at the beginning, and the subsequent scenes with bombers, kept to a minimum. After a successful bombing run, Jack pilots his small crew to China for pick-up, where everyone is forced to ditch. Separated from his men, Jack is found by Ying (Crystal Liu), her daughter Niu Niu (Fangcong Li), who is incredibly cute in the feature, and family-friend and village-leader, Kai (Yikuan Yan).
With the Japanese encroaching on their village, looking for the stranded Americans, Ying takes it upon herself to hide Jack in her home. Shimamoto (Tsukagoshi Hirotaka), the leader of the Japanese infantry there, is revealed to be the stereotypical, maniacal tyrant that we have seen hundreds of times before in previous Chinese war movies. That doesn't make his role any less tense or sinister, though it can come off as contrived.
I will give kudos to the film for having the Chinese speaking their own dialect, which adds authenticity. On the contrary, the Japanese also speak Chinese, so...........That said, the dynamic between Jack and Ying is effective, the feature illustrating that love has no cultural background, and needs no verbal language to thrive. Ms. Liu creates a genuinely sympathetic character, who is caring, resilient and strong-willed, putting the lives of others before herself. Mr. Hirsch, on the other hand, creates a gentlemanly personality, who is desperate to return home, but also deeply fond of the family who have taken him in. Forced into a harsh situation, with their lives threatened, it is no surprise they begin to grow a strong bond.
The relationship between Ying and her daughter occasionally feels more like two good friends, their chemistry being very warm. The sub-plot concerning Ying's deceased husband is often-times brought up, though doesn't really seem to get the attention it warrants. At the same time, Ying is providing for her in-laws, the relationship with her mother-in-law (Zhu Jin), being strained, at best, however this addition to the narrative doesn't go anywhere.
On occasion, events, such as a funeral, are mentioned, but these are never shown to us, while at other times, the sin 'tell, don't show' is committed. To that end, In Harm's Way feels rushed, and more like a movie that has been really cut down, so it fits under the 90-minute margin. That's not to detract from what we are given, which is a poignant and taut drama, with likable characters we feel strongly for, but considering the narrative the film is trying to sell us, more would have been nicer.
Furthermore, the conclusion of the film, though moving, doesn't coincide with the characters, and their motivations, that we know from the feature. The best way of describing it, would be that I, as an audience member, feel a bit cheated. It just, short of, ends, again highlighting the rapidness of the narrative.
The occasional in-your-face propaganda, deliberate melodrama and narrative abruptness aside, In Harm's Way is not a bad movie. In truth, it's perfectly fine; 'good' even. Pardon the metaphor, the movie is like being late to the arrival of a beautiful sundown. For everything that is done well, there is so much more that we would really like to have seen.
The opening sees Jack (Emile Hirsch) being interviewed by his commanders after his return from China, wherein he recollects his experiences abroad (without narration). This is potentially the first major issue with the movie; a pivotal narrative event is revealed here, that inadvertently evaporates some of the tension. It would be like reading a murder mystery, and having the name of the killer revealed on page one.
At times, it is obvious the movie is filmed on a tight budget, the attack on Japan at the beginning, and the subsequent scenes with bombers, kept to a minimum. After a successful bombing run, Jack pilots his small crew to China for pick-up, where everyone is forced to ditch. Separated from his men, Jack is found by Ying (Crystal Liu), her daughter Niu Niu (Fangcong Li), who is incredibly cute in the feature, and family-friend and village-leader, Kai (Yikuan Yan).
With the Japanese encroaching on their village, looking for the stranded Americans, Ying takes it upon herself to hide Jack in her home. Shimamoto (Tsukagoshi Hirotaka), the leader of the Japanese infantry there, is revealed to be the stereotypical, maniacal tyrant that we have seen hundreds of times before in previous Chinese war movies. That doesn't make his role any less tense or sinister, though it can come off as contrived.
I will give kudos to the film for having the Chinese speaking their own dialect, which adds authenticity. On the contrary, the Japanese also speak Chinese, so...........That said, the dynamic between Jack and Ying is effective, the feature illustrating that love has no cultural background, and needs no verbal language to thrive. Ms. Liu creates a genuinely sympathetic character, who is caring, resilient and strong-willed, putting the lives of others before herself. Mr. Hirsch, on the other hand, creates a gentlemanly personality, who is desperate to return home, but also deeply fond of the family who have taken him in. Forced into a harsh situation, with their lives threatened, it is no surprise they begin to grow a strong bond.
The relationship between Ying and her daughter occasionally feels more like two good friends, their chemistry being very warm. The sub-plot concerning Ying's deceased husband is often-times brought up, though doesn't really seem to get the attention it warrants. At the same time, Ying is providing for her in-laws, the relationship with her mother-in-law (Zhu Jin), being strained, at best, however this addition to the narrative doesn't go anywhere.
On occasion, events, such as a funeral, are mentioned, but these are never shown to us, while at other times, the sin 'tell, don't show' is committed. To that end, In Harm's Way feels rushed, and more like a movie that has been really cut down, so it fits under the 90-minute margin. That's not to detract from what we are given, which is a poignant and taut drama, with likable characters we feel strongly for, but considering the narrative the film is trying to sell us, more would have been nicer.
Furthermore, the conclusion of the film, though moving, doesn't coincide with the characters, and their motivations, that we know from the feature. The best way of describing it, would be that I, as an audience member, feel a bit cheated. It just, short of, ends, again highlighting the rapidness of the narrative.
The occasional in-your-face propaganda, deliberate melodrama and narrative abruptness aside, In Harm's Way is not a bad movie. In truth, it's perfectly fine; 'good' even. Pardon the metaphor, the movie is like being late to the arrival of a beautiful sundown. For everything that is done well, there is so much more that we would really like to have seen.