''China Cry'' is a 1990 American

biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or group of people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from Docudrama, docudrama films ...

set during rise of the

communist state A communist state, also known as a Marxist–Leninist state, is a one-party state in which the totality of the power belongs to a party adhering to some form of Marxism–Leninism, a branch of the communist ideology. Marxism–Leninism was ...

in China, based on the book by Nora Lam. It is set in the 1950s based on the true story of Sung Neng Yee (played by Julia Nickson-Soul), and also stars Russell Wong. Born into a wealthy Chinese family, Nora is first eager to become part of

Mao Zedong Mao Zedong pronounced ; traditionally Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Mao Tse-tung. (26December 18939September 1976) was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and political theorist who founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) in ...

's "new society". But the

Maoist Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic o ...

regime brings hardship and misery to her family. She is arrested by authorities, and she believes that only the Lord

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

must have saved her when she miraculously survives a firing squad whilst being condemned as a Committed Christian from a Christian Intellectual family (by a Northern Chinese State Security Woman Officer- after she urges her to kiss the Red Flag). She is then taken to a labour camp while pregnant, but once again, survives to take her children and family to freedom, which is finally granted after she sends (from the Labour Camp in Shanghai) three copies of the same telegram: one to Chairman Mao; and the other two to Prime Minister Chu & Beijing Police Headquarters. The film was directed by James F. Collier (who also directed The Hiding Place and

Joni Joni may refer to: Given name *Joni Anwar (born 1981), Thai singer and actor *Joni Eareckson Tada (born 1949), American author and Christian ministry founder *Joni Ernst (born 1970), American senator from Iowa *Joni Haverinen (born 1987), Finnish ...

), and is an example of positive Asian characters in a Christian-themed film. The film's theme song "No One But You" is performed by

Irene Cara Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress who rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film '' Fame'', and for recording the film's title song " Fame", which reach ...

Box office

The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' reported in 1991 that despite mostly "downbeat" reviews it did not stop ''China Cry'' from grossing over $4 million since it's release in the previous autumn.

Critical reception

''Los Angeles Times'', "In style and tone it’s old-fashioned, melodramatic and occasionally ponderous, but it is also marked by the solid craftsmanship, unmistakable commitment and genuine spirituality typical of the work of its capable writer-director James F. Collier, long associated with Billy Graham’s now-defunct World Wide Pictures." ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', ""China Cry" would like to be the

Asian-American Asian Americans are Americans with ancestry from the continent of Asia (including naturalized Americans who are immigrants from specific regions in Asia and descendants of those immigrants). Although this term had historically been used for ...

answer to "Ben Hur" but the tale is told too choppily to gather much momentum, and the acting is tentative."

References

External links

* * 1990 films British biographical films Films about Christianity Films directed by James F. Collier 1990s English-language films 1990s British films {{1990s-UK-film-stub