Empire of the Sun (1987) - The meeting, final scene.

Final Scene of the movie Empire of the Sun (1987) when Jim finally meet with his parents at the end of the war, it gets me every time.

Directed by Stephen Spielberg.

Music Copyright owned by Warner Chappell.

[dub]

I will always cry at this scene as it sums up so sweetly what a crime war is. It robs people of so many things - time, love, hope, the future. The scene also balances so intimately the beginning when Jaime as the soloist in his choir; and a the end he is lost in a cacophony of lost voices. Only his mother recognizes him for what he is. Her baby boy. Damn, losing it again. Sorry, this scene is very tough for me.

[BigALBoomer]

Criminally underrated film. Little did we know what a powerhouse in the acting world Bale would become. But the huge talent was clearly there

[hpfme]

Christian Bale should have won an oscar for this.

[remyparaskovia]

His eyes saw war,
Those eyes saw hunger, dead, Injustice, Violence, blood, The Atomic bomb, a friend die, those Eyes saw his own Innocence

[TheTishy]

Everytime I see this scene….i just cry. The total change of their son, the serious PTSD this kid shows. I was blown away with his acting.

[jgesselberty]

Amazing how just a few minutes of this film can bring a lump to the throat and tears to the eyes.

[magboburd-e]

The song being sung here is a Welsh lullaby, in English it reads;

“Sleep my darling, on my bosom,
Harm will never come to you;
Mother's arms enfold you safely,
Mother's heart is ever true.
As you sleep there's naught to scare you,
Naught to wake you from your rest;
Close those eyelids, little angel,
Sleep upon your mother's breast.”

This is beautifully paired with the over the shoulder perspective of Jim’s mother as she holds him to his chest, we look directly into his weary eyes as he peacefully closes them.

So well done!

[paulkirkland]

After all he has seen and lived through, he finally stops 'thinking so much' and closes his eyes on it all. The whole story seems to be balanced out in one perfect moment.

[rynolascavio]

30 years later....still hard to watch this final scene without losing it. One of the most overlooked movies of my lifetime.
Ive never been the biggest Christian Bale fan, but this movie should go down as one of the greatest child acting roles in history.

[IztokGolob-Naklo]

One of the most moving scenes ever and it still amazes me how all three managed not to overact it. Mother slightly trembling, trying desperately not to break down, the father on the brink of tears filled with guilt, and Jamie like a war veteran with a thousand-yard stare, beyond having any tears left. Just absolutely brilliant and real.

[Sail-away]

After 30 years i still cry watching this scene

[JennA-uflo]

I cry every time I see this scene. Can’t help it: the song starts up and I’m off. I always hear his voice breaking when he talks about how he can’t remember what his mother looked like, and his hesitation when he says she had dark hair. I saw this movie soon after it first came out and thought this Christian Bale kid was going to be one to watch….

[randihigginbotham]

My aunt, after watching this movie all those decades ago, told me I had to watch it. She told me, whoever that kid was starring in it, would be a star one day. And she was right. Empire of the Sun, from start to rolling credits, is a spectacular roller coaster of triumph and war through the eyes of a child like nothing else.

[MarsFKA]

For years, he endured Hell and still managed to keep everything together, losing it only at the very end. Powerful scene.

[riggs]

This was one of those cinematic moments that is a beacon of Gen X’s childhood. We all cried at this song and this scene. ❤

[markbaker]

this scene always brings tears to my eyes so powerful great film

[PeBoVision]

Bale & Spielberg at their absolute finest.
Landed in my top-ten list as I left the theatre, and has remained there for 36 years.

[sprucy]

I almost died when my son was a 3 month old. I asked my mother to take him. I got through it and survived, and when I went to my mother's to see my baby boy, he was sad. A sad empty baby just left alone and untouched. I remember looking into his eyes, and the change in them when he reconized me. I held him and hugged him. I never let him go again. I recall this scene later as much the same thing.

[fishbone]

Jim is damaged and traumatized and his parents sense it. They don;t all go leaping into each other's arms like a happy ending. When he touches her lip it is so touching, awkward, and sad at the same time.

[TeamLNE]

I cry every single time! This beautiful track was played at my mum’s funeral as this was one of her favourite films. It’s been 10yrs and I forever miss her - really wish she could have met my beautiful wife! Anyway, sorry for being a killjoy folks! This movie is incredible 💙