Empire of the Sun (film)

Empire of the Sun is a 1987 American coming of age war film based on J. G. Ballards semiautobiographical novel of the same name. Steven Spielberg directed the film, which stars Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, and Nigel Havers. The film tells the story of Jamie Jim Graham, a young boy who goes from living in a wealthy British family in Shanghai, to becoming a prisoner of war in a Japanese internment camp, during World War II.

It is now 1945, nearing the end of the Pacific War. Despite the terror and poor living conditions of the camp, Jim survives by establishing a successful trading network which even involves the camps commander, Sergeant Nagata. Dr. Rawlins, the camps British doctor, becomes a father figure and teacher to Jim. One night after a bombing raid, Nagata orders the destruction of the prisoners infirmary as reprisal. He only stops when Jim now fluent in Japanese begs forgiveness. Through the barbed wire fencing, Jim befriends a Japanese teenager, who is a trainee pilot. Jim also visits Basie in the American POW barracks, where Jim idolizes the Americans and their culture. Basie eventually sends Jim to set snare traps outside the camps wire though Jim succeeds, Basie is only using him to test the area for land mines plotting to escape. As a reward, Basie allows Jim to move into the American barracks with him.One morning at dawn, Jim witnesses a kamikaze ritual. Overcome with emotion, he salutes and sings the Welsh song Suo Gn. The base is suddenly attacked by a group of American P51 Mustang fighter aircraft. Jim is overjoyed and climbs the ruins of a nearby pagoda to better watch the airstrike. Dr. Rawlins chases Jim up the pagoda to save him, where the boy breaks down in tears he cannot remember what his parents look like. As a result of the attack the Japanese decide to evacuate the camp. Basie escapes during the confusion, though he had promised to take Jim with him. The camps prisoners march through the wilderness where many die of fatigue, starvation, and disease. ........

Source: Wikipedia