China Cry: A True Story (1990)

GOD IS MY WITNESS...

This is the incredible story of Nora Lam, a woman whose unwavering faith in God has seen her through more upheavals in her life than most people ever experience. This film is an adaptation of her book and is a condensation of Ms. Lam's extraordinary life. James F. Collier, who wrote the film adaptation, also directed the film.

In the film, her story begins in 1941, when she was a young child named Sung Neng Yee and lived in Shanghai with her wealthy parents, Dr. and Mrs. Sung (James Shigeta and Frances Nuyen), amidst unparalleled luxury and privilege. She was a spoiled and pampered child, a veritable princess. In December of 1941, Neng Yee's life would forever change, as her family was forced to flee their home, when the Japanese invaders overran all of Shanghai. For the Sung family, a life of privilege would forever be a thing of the past.

Nine years later, in 1950, Neng Yee (Julia Nickson-Soul), a beautiful young woman living in reduced circumstances with her family, was a student at Soochow University. She was living on the cusp of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution and was now pro-communist in her beliefs. Neng Yee studied hard at the university, and there she met and fell in love with Lam Cheng Shen (Russell Wong), a handsome young scholar with a proclivity for dressing in western clothing. Some time after graduation, Neng Yee and Cheng Shen married.

Then, everyone's re-education began. Under the auspices of the Cultural Revolution, her father, a well respected medical doctor, was forced to scrub floors in the same hospital in which he had been a prominent physician. Thus, was to begin the road of disillusionment for Neng Yee. Once persecuted by the Japanese, the Sungs now found themselves to be part of the collateral damage of the Cultural Revolution.

Shortly after, a pregnant Neng Yee and her husband found themselves subjected to interrogations by Communist officials, as they were deemed to be suspicious because of their family connections and because of that fact that Neng Yee had, at one time, held Christian beliefs. So, her nightmare began. Under interrogation, as part of her of her re-education, she re-counted to her interrogators her life at a Christian boarding school years ago. During the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, it was thought that confession and criticism were the first steps to social reform in China.

Neng Yee acknowledged that for a time she had turned to Christianity, only to have forgotten about it by the time she was sixteen, when she, instead, had turned to Chairman Mao for guidance. As Neng Yee's independent spirit began to chafe under the repressive and oppressive party line, under interrogation, Neng Yee found God again. She eventually found herself in conflict with the state and sentenced to death. Her moment of truth arrived when the pregnant Neng Yee was brought before the firing squad. What happened next is sure to make one believe in miracles. It is at that miraculous moment that life really began for Neng Yee. God promised Neng Yee that she and her family would be free and leave China. The film ends with that promise being fulfilled.

In actuality, it is not the end of her story but only the beginning. Neng Yee and her family emigrated to the United States, and Neng Yee became Nora Lam. She went on to live a life that is nearly incredible in terms of its experiential breadth. It was to be a secular life ultimately lived in the service of God in all parts of the world. It is amazing what this young woman would go on to achieve and accomplish in her life. Hers is, indeed, an inspirational story that will make one believe in a higher power, if one does not already do so. It is surely a story worth telling. Nora Lam has gone on to establish the Nora Lam Ministries, which is based in California, and she has led evangelical crusades in China and the United States. One should read the book upon which the film is based before viewing the film. As is so often the case, the book is better.

The problem with the film is that it has to cram too much into too short a time period. Consequently, it leaves parts out that would make the story a little more comprehensible. Moreover, while the venerable James Shigeta and Frances Nuyen give excellent performances, as does Russell Wong, Julia Nickson-Soul, as pretty as she is, has too contemporary an edge and lacks the acting chops to be truly effective or convincing in the role. Consequently, this film pales when compared to James F. Collier's other inspirational film, "The Hiding Place". October 30, 2005

Based on a true story

The acting is great. And Julia Nickson-Sole is convincing as Sung.

As a result of the Japanese invasion of China a wealthy family is displaced from their home and divested of their servants. The Commie replacement government was not very sympathetic toward this type of family either.

Now we see what is happening in degrees as she phased out of her cushy surroundings. She actually tries to comply with the new environment and approves of it.

Then the government helps her to learn about the Christianity by accusing her of going to a Christian school as a child. She tries to explain that she only went to the school and that did not make her Christian. The unbending government makes her suffer until in her confusion she turns to Christianity in hopes of a cure for the situation.
December 22, 2004

A Phenomenal Film!!!

For those of you who like "true stories," this is a marvelous film, and it traces the life of a young woman who is born into a prestigious family in mainland China, and ultimately she experiences the invasion of the Japanese, when her family was torn apart, to the Cultural Revolution under Mao Tse Tung, and finally to the place where she sacrifices herself to save her family. Throughout it all, though, she holds firm to her faith, and in the process, her faith is re-kindled and she experiences a profound experience of having her life spared, only to understand that God was with her throughout her ordeal, and His promise to her that she will leave China with her family helps her stand firm in the face of adversity.

This is an excellent, if not profoundly moving film, and it is highly recommended!!! Be prepared to experience the many differing emotions, from laughter, to tears, to anger, to love.
November 14, 2004

Excellent Movie-Powerful Witness!!!

This is an excellent movie! I saw it a few years ago and then again recently on TBN. The acting was truly superb and very convincing, too. Although not of Asian descent, I work in cross-cultural ministry with Asian-American college students and young adults. So the cultural things in reference to China were very helpful.
More than the above, I think this movie is a very powerful tool for evangelism. Many modern day Christians in America should see this movie. It will strengthen and challenge your Christian faith beyond measure. I'm glad that this movie is still around and still being shown on t.v. ... February 18, 2002

Faith in God can move mountains

This story is an amazing statement of faith in the power of God. The most amazing thing is that it is true! Nora Lam went through persecution unknown by most Christians with unwavering faith in the heavenly Father. Her life is nothing short of a miracle and an example for others to follow. Let us all pray that we will never have to undergo such horrible circumstances that would test our faith to those limits. January 1, 2002

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