Life of a young boy who has lost his wealthy life.

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

Life of a young boy who has lost his wealthy life in war.

            ROLES

            - Jamie Graham

            - Basie

            - Frank

            - Dr Rawlins

            - Mrs Victor

            - Seargent Nagata

Empire of the sun, 1987 movie directed by a well known  director Steven Spielberg. Movie based on J. G. Ballard’s Novel and this was the second movie of Spielberg, continuously to give two movies on a novel. This movie was the second and the previous one was “The Color Purple”. Harold Becker and David Lean were to direct the movie originally. Spielberg who came as a producer for the movie was attracted with the story and directed it. Novel writer Ballard, had made a Cameo appearance in the scene of Costume Party.

Important character of the movie Jamie Graham. Most of the scenes were shot in Jamie’s point of view and also shows us how he sees what’s happening around him. For the role of Jamie Graham, director Steven Spielberg auditioned over 4,000 child actors.

Jamie Graham called Jamie, singing chorus in church leaving in a wealthy family. Aim to become a pilot, fond of every planes, has the knowledge of planes and by looking at the planes moving in the sky he is able to name it, his room full of toy planes. Jamie with his parents attends a costume party, their he moves alone to a place finds a crashed plane, sitting in it sounds as driving it, then moves aside and looks through the group of Japanese soldiers in a camp.  Questions his father they were not angry “they were not angry” he replies “they’re waiting in patience, every one worried of war”. War began in the place where they were living and Jimmy’s father informs to leave the place soon. Everyone rushing to vacate the place, in the crowd Jamie, his mother and father all three got separated. Jamie’s mother shouting to find the way for home, I will reach you there. Jamie came to his home spent his days alone, without food left. Finally decides to move out and was chased by a Japanese boy, later comes under the shelter of Basie and Frank, who are Americans hidden in ship and nick named his as Jim.

Basie tries to sell Jamie to Japanese and as per Jamie’s advice move to his home. His home was occupied by Japanese. All three were caught and was sent to Lunghua Civilian Assembly Center in Shanghai. Then moved to Suzhou Creek Internment Camp. Jim looking at planes go nearby it touches and hugs it, Japanese pilots come near to him. Looking at them he salutes, in return they too Salute him.

In 1945, a few months before the end of the Pacific War, Jim has established a good living, despite the poor conditions of the camp. Jim maintained good trade by stealing things from the police officials such as soap, shaving blade, etc and sell it to people in camps. Got friendship of a Japanese boy, staying next to the camp having the same dream of him, becoming a pilot. The camps commanding officer Sergeant Nagata often checks the camp. Dr. Rawlins a British Doctor in camp has become the father figure of Jim. Once, Naganta visited camp, it happened to hit Dr. Rawlin, Jim coming their bows down as Jamie informed previously, if anything wrong happens bow down in front of them, as he did so sergeant leaves the place. Basie sends Jim to cross the fence and set the snare traps outside the camp. Others next to Basie challenging that he wins, he looses. Nagata over there getting doubt moved in seaching, the moment he was to find Jim. The Japanese boy friend of Jim saved him. Jim thanked him and returned. Jim then was made to live with Basie, others surrounded there salutes Jim for his brave work.

Seargent Nagata who made a visit to Basie place, finds a Japanese soap under the table used by him for shaving. Hits him, meanwhile Jim tries to stop it he’s pushed by him and continued to hit Basie and arrested. Basie, informed Jim that you have to take care for my things when I am not here. When Basie is returned, finding all his things missing, Jim is sent out of his place. Later, American pilots started bombing on camps office. Jim moved on the roof and shouting the name of the plane “P-51 CADILLAC OF THE SKY”, feels happy of looking it. Dr. Rawlins shouts him to come down later Rawlins comes their makes him to come out of his enthusiastic moment and brings him down. The scene was similar like a kid watching game in the play ground.

Everyone in camp informed to move out, as they are moving to other place. Jim comes in search of Basie, but he was escaped. Jim feels sad that Basie promised him that he will take him with, but has escaped leaving him. Everyone moving, Jim finds his Japanese friend moving near a plane and going to fly, looking at him Jim feels happy. But, later the boy comes to know that it was not, because the plane given to him was the one which doesn’t work. He cries of his situation. All were brought to the huge stadium where they find abandoned cars, ornaments, and furniture. One amongst them was Jim’s car which he confirmed by an eagle statue on it. No one cared about it, everyone were struggling because of starvation. Jim informs to Mrs. Victor to fall as if dead, so that we can avoid moving, both falls down the same way.

Next day morning Jim wakes Mrs. Victor but she’s dead. Jim looks through the bright light in the sky and thinks it’s her soul moving to heaven. Actually it was the light of atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Jim moving on his way finds food dropped by the plane, has it. Returns to the camp, finds his Japanese friend & he offers Jim an orange, with using the sword he tries to cut it. Basie who comes there with other Americans shoots the Japanese boy, Jim moves on fighting with them for shooting his friend. And he stayed in camp rather than moving with them.

Alone in the camp, riding a cycle. American soldiers arrived their, looking at them Jim spells “I surrender”.  Then he’s brought to the Orphanage in Japan for the children who had lost their parents. When his parents come to the place he was unable to recognize them.

Empire of the sun, innocence of a young brave boy.