Starring a 13 year old Christian Bale, John Malkovich and Nigel Havers, the film is a true account of J.G.Ballard's experiences in a Japanese work-camp from 1941-45.
Jamie Graham (Bale) is a somewhat spoilt brat enjoying the good life in the International Sector of Shanghai. Although Japan and China had been at war for 4 years the Sector was protected by diplomatic treaties. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour all that changed.
When Jamies parents realised - too late - the danger they were all in, they tried (along with thousands of others) to evacuate. In the confusion Jamie was separated. He went home and waited for his parents but they never came. Facing starvation at home Jamie went into the city where he was taken in by Basey (Malkovich) an American merchant seaman who had plans to sell the boy.
When nobody wants to buy Jamie he promises Basey 'rich-pickings' from the houses near where he lived. They are caught by the Japanese and put in holding warehouses until the fittest are chosen to go work in the labour-camp.
The focus of the film then turns to a childs instinct for survival in testing circumstances, in spite of a usually 'devil-may-care' attitude.
With Steven Spielberg as director, the photography is excellent and some of the sequences even for such an old film (1987) are outstanding. It's a must see for war buffs and true-story lovers like me. The end sequence moistened my eyes as it would anybody with any sort of emotions.
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