Cast and Crew: Steven Spielberg (Director/Producer); John Williams (Score); John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Joe Pantoliano, Ben Stiller

What It’s About: Jamie Graham (Christian Bale) is separated from his parents when Shanghai is invaded by the Japanese.  He must learn to survive, first on his own in his parents abandoned estate then in a Japanese interment camp, where he remains until the war’s end.

Why Watch it Today?: Japan surrendered today in 1945.  Empire of the Sun gives us one boy’s view of the war, from J. G. Ballard’s autobiographical novel and Tom Stoppard’s script, with an excellent performance from Christian Bale and a great supporting cast.