long before the start of World War II: The Japanese aggression begun with the invasion of the northeastern part of China, commonly known as Manchuria, in the year of 1931, and then later, the full scale invasion of China in 1937. China had to fight the fascist Japanese aggressors alone and many Chinese family suffered just as the film depicted, long before other people, who did not face the reality of war until 1941.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews