Empire of the Sun (1987)
Empire of the Sun (1987) is an American epic coming-of-age war film, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tom Stoppard. It is based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. Set amid Japan’s invasion of China during World War II, the story follows Jamie ‘Jim’ Graham, a British schoolboy from a privileged background living in Shanghai’s International Settlement. When Japan begins occupying the city after attacking Pearl Harbor, Jamie’s family evacuates but he becomes separated from them. Assuming they will return, he stays behind at their house and eventually runs out of food. Desperate for survival, he attempts to surrender to Japanese soldiers but they ignore him. After being chased by a street urchin, he is taken in by two American expatriates, Basie and Frank, who are also hustlers. They initially plan to abandon him in the streets but Jamie offers to lead them to his neighborhood where they can loot empty houses for food and supplies.
Surprised to see lights on in his family home, he assumes his parents have returned, only to be met by Japanese troops. Along with two others, he is captured and taken to the Lunghua Civilian Assembly Centre in Shanghai for processing before being sent to an internment camp in Suzhou. As the end of the Pacific War and World War II nears in 1945, Jim manages to survive within the terror and poor living conditions of the camp thanks to a trading network he has established – even involving the camp’s commander, Sergeant Nagata. Jim also finds comfort and guidance from Dr. Rawlins, a British doctor at the camp who takes on a fatherly role and becomes a teacher figure for Jim. In one particular incident during a bombing raid, Nagata orders for the prisoners’ infirmary to be destroyed as punishment but relents when Jim begs for forgiveness.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  John MalkovichBasie  Miranda RichardsonMrs. Victor  Nigel HaversDr. Rawlins  Joe PantolianoFrank Demarest |
Christian BaleEmpire of the Sun (1987) is an American epic coming-of-age war film, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tom Stoppard. It is based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. Set amid Japan’s invasion of China during World War II, the story follows Jamie ‘Jim’ Graham, a British schoolboy from a privileged background living in Shanghai’s International Settlement. When Japan begins occupying the city after attacking Pearl Harbor, Jamie’s family evacuates but he becomes separated from them. Assuming they will return, he stays behind at their house and eventually runs out of food. Desperate for survival, he attempts to surrender to Japanese soldiers but they ignore him. After being chased by a street urchin, he is taken in by two American expatriates, Basie and Frank, who are also hustlers. They initially plan to abandon him in the streets but Jamie offers to lead them to his neighborhood where they can loot empty houses for food and supplies.
Surprised to see lights on in his family home, he assumes his parents have returned, only to be met by Japanese troops. Along with two others, he is captured and taken to the Lunghua Civilian Assembly Centre in Shanghai for processing before being sent to an internment camp in Suzhou. As the end of the Pacific War and World War II nears in 1945, Jim manages to survive within the terror and poor living conditions of the camp thanks to a trading network he has established – even involving the camp’s commander, Sergeant Nagata. Jim also finds comfort and guidance from Dr. Rawlins, a British doctor at the camp who takes on a fatherly role and becomes a teacher figure for Jim. In one particular incident during a bombing raid, Nagata orders for the prisoners’ infirmary to be destroyed as punishment but relents when Jim begs for forgiveness.
