Exodus to Shanghai, 2015 review

Produced by Michel Adam a fashion TV founder and directed by Anthony Hickox (Waxwork, Hellraiser3...) this upbeat feature film provides a superb symbiosis of action thriller, comedy, romance, adventure, music and high production value. Using most attractive fashion models and seasoned actors the Exodus story is largely based on the true story of Dr. Feng Shan Ho the Chinese Consul of Vienna issuing 10, 000 exit visas in 1938 to Austrian Jews to leave the Third Reich for Shanghai, an initiative opposed by his Berlin superior who needed arms from Germany. The narrative involves Dr. Ho, Fannia a beautiful musician falling in love with Bruce the martial arts expert nephew of the Consul, the art gallery owners Morgenstern, sadistic Gestapo and SS members who were ordered by Hitler to find his drawing of Prince, his favorite shepard dog, and an assortment of other original characters. Following the maxim that only a good Nazi is a dead Nazi Dr. Ho’s group and people he had hidden successfully escape on a train from Vienna after killing a large number of Nazis.  The film is most enjoyable and appealing in part because of its message that the good side prevails over evil. Before its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival and theatrical release it is already streaming on Amazon com.

Claus Mueller   filmexchange@gmail.com