1987 · 153 min · PG

Empire of the Sun

Name: Empire of the Sun
Genre: Drama, History, War
Released: 1987
Duration: 153 min
Cast: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers, Joe Pantoliano

Directed by Steven Spielberg · Drama, History, War

Empire of the Sun (1987) is a Drama film, directed by Steven Spielberg set in Shanghai and Suzhou during the 1940s. It runs 153 minutes and is rated PG.

Themes of coming of age, survival, and war's cost run throughout.

Composer

John Williams

Cinematography

Allen Daviau

Cast

Christian BaleJohn MalkovichMiranda RichardsonNigel HaversJoe PantolianoLeslie PhillipsMasatô IbuEmily Richard

The world of this film

Setting

Where

ShanghaiSuzhou

Setting

Urban

When

1940s

Premise & themes

Themes

Coming Of Age Survival War's Cost

Tone

MelancholicTense

Shape

Protagonist

Child LeadSolo Lead

Pacing

Measured

Based on

Historical Fiction

1972
Fist of Fury
Shanghai — 1900s
Urbandir. Lo Wei
1994
Fist of Legend
Shanghai — 1910s
Urbandir. Gordon Chan
1984
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
India · Shanghai — 1930s
Wilderness · Underground · Ruraldir. Steven Spielberg
2004
Kung Fu Hustle
Shanghai — 1940s
Urbandir. Stephen Chow
2007
Lust, Caution
Shanghai · Hong Kong — 1940s
Urbandir. Ang Lee
1998
The Red Violin
Cremona · Vienna · Oxford · Shanghai · Montreal — Early Modern · 1700s · 1800s · 1960s · 1990s
Urbandir. François Girard

Empire of the Sun

The world of this film

Setting

Premise & themes

Shape

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