In 1930s war-torn China, a young English journalist (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), an American nurse (Radha Mitchell) and the leader of a Chinese partisan group (Chow Yun-Fat) meet in desperate and unexpected circumstances.
Together they rescue 60 orphaned children, leading them on an extraordinary journey across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain, through snow-covered mountains and an unforgiving desert. Along the way they discover the true meaning of love, responsibility and courage.