It is a child's point-of-view

Rating: 10/10 (7 December 2002)

I did not fully understand when I first saw Empire of the Sun. I was unsettled by the mixed-up story about the survival of a war orphan who idolized both an American profiteer (John Malkovich) and the Japanese fighter pilots.
Then the revelation during my second viewing: Empire of the Sun is entirely from THE PERSPECTIVE OF A CHILD! Everything fell into place. It's the experience and understanding of a young boy, surviving amidst an enormous drama, seeking role models to guide him to adulthood. It's a marvelous film.