universal understanding

Rating: Null/10 (13 October 1998)

This movie touched me in a way that few movies ever have. Although "Empire" contains a great deal of artistry and imagery I feel that I can only fully express that at base this movie is about the innocence of children and the ties that are formed regardless of race or nationality before they are exposed to the hatred that adults force on them. Jim's journey is a long and complicated one but his innocent friendships with people like basie and the other camp victims show that he is unaware of his dangerous surroundings. This theme culminates with his befriending the young Japanese boy. The two form a bond even though there respective countries are at war with each other. Speilberg shows that only if we look at war as children can we ever hope to avoid it.