say a film be depress isn not necessarily a bad thing . i be very willing to watch a depressing film if there be a point to be make and this one certainly have one . it the often heartbreaking story of a chinese man and his family a they experience many year of both hardship and plenty . but and i must warn you that this might just be about the most depressing film to come out of hollywood in the 1930s because peasant life in china be tough to say the least . be prepare to watch segment about famine and death and disease . about the only negative other than the persistent tone of misery be that the lead be play by paul muni . while he be an exceptionally talented man and it just a real shame that hollywood always cast people of european descent to play asian lead during this era . if you be pay attention at all and it pretty obvious that muni be wrong for the part .