Sino-US co-production 'A Children's Song' attracts world's attention

The poster of film A Children's Song [Photo provided to China Daily]

A Children's Song, based on the true story of Chinese assistance to Jewish refugees during World War II, has recently garnered widespread attention in the West.

The short film, jointly produced by China and the United States, has won seven awards in various international film festivals, including the Best Short in California Woman's Film Festival, and Best Short/Best Editing in NYC Indie Film Awards, making it the most-awarded short co-production ever.

A highlight of the movie is its theme song sung by pop singer Zhang Liangying, who rose to prominence for her stylized voice in the reality show Super Girl.

Through the theme lyrics, the movie arouses memories of the wartime years during which Shanghai locals helped around 25,000 Jewish refugees survive Nazi persecution during World War II.

Director and writer Shayna Cohen said the film was a praise of humanism, to commemorate that Chinese people gave refugees – who suffered through fear and misery –hope during their darkest hours, in the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival.

Li Yi, the general manager of 1905 Pictures, one of the producers, said the filmmakers hoped the film would educate more people about the history.

Producers revealed the short film would soon be released in China.

In April, A Children's Song was selected by the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angles as the special screening film, and permanently collected by Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.