The Children of Huang Shi

In 1938, George Hogg sneaks into Nanjing, China, impersonating a Red Cross aid worker. He arrives to find a city devastated by war, filled with poverty, ruins, and countless corpses on the streets.

After settling in, Hogg witnesses Japanese soldiers rounding up Chinese refugees. Horrified, he photographs the massacre that unfolds outside his window, capturing the brutal reality of the conflict.

While documenting the Japanese soldiers' actions, Hogg is captured and faces execution. Just in time, he's saved by Chen Hansheng, a local Chinese resistance fighter.

As Hogg hides with Hansheng, they witness the execution of two of his colleagues by Japanese forces. Overcome with emotion, Hogg inadvertently reveals their location, resulting in a firefight.

After being wounded in the firefight, Hogg wakes up in a rebel camp, where he meets Lee Pearson. She cares for his injuries and discusses the dire situation in the region.

At Lee's suggestion, Hogg is taken to an orphanage that houses 56 boys and their elderly caretaker. His first night, he faces hostility from the boys, who attack him unexpectedly.

To gain the boys' trust, Hogg participates in a demonstration with Lee, using flea powder to treat the boys for lice. This act helps him to gradually earn their respect as he becomes their caretaker.

Despite initially wanting to leave the orphanage and head to the front lines, Hogg reflects on his duty towards the orphans and decides to stay and care for them instead.

Hogg discovers the dire food situation at the orphanage, as the boys face starvation. He resolves to find a solution to feed the children properly and improve their living conditions.

Hogg seeks out Mrs. Wang, a wealthy local, hoping to barter for food and seeds. After successfully proving his agricultural knowledge, he secures supplies that will benefit the orphanage.

With the supplies from Mrs. Wang, Hogg starts a vegetable garden beside the orphanage. He helps the boys plant seeds, which leads to a flourishing garden and improved food security for the children.

Fearing for the boys' lives, Hogg and the orphans embark on a perilous journey across the snow-covered Liu Pan Shan mountains, escaping conscription and seeking safety.

After enduring a challenging three-month journey, Hogg and the boys establish a new orphanage at their destination. They transform a building to ensure a safe and nurturing environment.

In 1945, Hogg tragically dies of tetanus, a fate foreshadowed by Lee earlier in the film. His death marks the end of his tireless efforts to protect and nurture the orphans.

The film concludes with brief interviews of some surviving orphans, reflecting on the horrors they endured during the Rape of Nanjing and the impact Hogg had on their lives.