birdienl | Impressions of South Solitary, The Children of Huang Shi and The Moonstone

South Solitary 2010

Adapted from: no adaptation
Length: 121 min

Summary: 1928: Meredith is a 35 year-old unmarried woman who arrives at a remote lighthouse island along the coast of Australia with her uncle the new head keeper. Here she meets the underkeepers Harry Stanley, an easygoing charmer, and Jack Fleet, a recluse scarred by his experiences in WWI.

Familiar faces: Miranda Otto and Marton Csokas (Eowyn and Celeborn from LOTR)

Watch this if:
- You like period dramas with beautiful settings
- You're interested in watching a very different period drama for a change: not English, no society issues, just a small human story

Don't watch this if:
- You don't like slow-burning movies

Best part: The ending! It's wonderfully acted, hopeful and touching and leaves your head buzzing with thoughts about how the life of the two main characters will proceed.

The Children of Huang Shi 2008

Adapted from: true events
Length: 125 min

Summary: George Hogg, a British war correspondent, finds himself behind enemy lines during the Japanese occupation of China in the 1930s. With the help of Chen, the leader of a Chinese communist partisan group, he finds a safe place in the orphanage of Huang Shi, where 60 boys have been left to fend for themselves. Hogg befriends the boys and turns the orphanage into a safe and healthy place, with the help of the courageous American nurse Lee. But just for how long will they be safe?

Familiar faces: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh

Watch this if:
- You like movies based on true events
- You like learning about unknown pieces of history
- You like epic stories

Don't watch this if:
- You're not in the mood for a movie you'll need a hanky for

Best part (Spoilers!): Hogg and Lee speaking to a seemingly hostile Chinese leader on their long journey, only to hear the man want's to donate his Dodge trucks so the boys don't have to walk anymore! .

The Moonstone 1997

Adapted from: the novel by Wilkie Collins
Length: 118 min

Summary: Franklin Blake returns to his childhood home after having lived abroad for a long time. He carries with him the Moonstone, a precious diamond as a birthday gift to his cousin Rachel. But soon afterwards the diamond is stolen and everyone is a suspect. The famous sergeant Cuff is brought in to solve the case.

Familar faces: Greg Wise, Keeley Hawes and Peter Vaughan

Watch this if:
- You like Whodunnit stories

Don't watch this if:
- You like a detective story to have a reasonably credible solution
- You want to keep your high opinion of Keeley Hawes acting

Best part: The courtship of Franklin and Rachel