The lowdown: 'Empire of the Sun' chronicles the experiences of a young boy and his journey toward adulthood in
Japanese-occupied China during the Second World War. Christian Bale plays Jim Graham, who lives with his wealthy
parents in the International Settlement, an enclave of Shanghai that was home to expatriates from countries such as
Britain and the US. Residents of the Settlement lived in opulence, oblivious to the squalor and poverty of the Chinese 
people beyond the walls of their compound. However, Jim's world crashes around him when the Japanese invade at
the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. The British citizens are evacuated, but Jim becomes
separated from his parents and is left behind. Jim survives for a time in his former home, waiting for his parents to 
return, before befriending two Americans, Frank and Basie, and eventually being sent to an internment camp. The
story of course has a happy ending, with Jim being reunited with his parents at the end of the war.

Paul McGann has a very brief cameo near the end of the film, as one of the American soldiers who occupy Shanghai
after the Japanese surrender. The soldiers set about looting food canisters that have been parachuted into Shanghai,
and Price shoots a Japanese boy who Jim had befriended, in the mistaken belief that he was about to behead Jim
(when in fact he was using his sword to cut a mango). McGann apparently had a larger role in the original script, but
like his role in Alien3, most of his scenes were cut. McGann's character is called Lt. Price in the end credits, 
although he is not named in the film. It was only his second film role.

'Empire of the Sun' is a powerful and moving film, and perhaps the best film of Steven Spielberg's career. It is based
on the novel by JG Ballard, which in turn is loosely based on Ballard's own experiences in occupied Shanghai. The 
story is engaging and beautifully filmed, and the acting is superb, particularly the 13-year Christian Bale. It also 
features well-known actors such as John Malkovich as Basie, Nigel Havers and Ben Stiller in one of his first film roles.
While it is a long film at nearly 2.5 hours, 'Empire' is well worth spending the time to watch.
Quotes:
  (after Price kills the Japanese boy):
  Jim: He was my friend! 
  Basie: He was a Jap! 
  Jim: The war's over! 		 Video Clip:
  Jim's Japanese friend dies  (5.4mb)

    More pictures from 'Empire of the Sun'

 
 
 


 
 
 

 
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