I agree, the film is stunning, moving and dialectically thrilling – but did Spielberg work his Zionist magic? After watching the Blu-ray of Empire of the Sun a number of times and re-reading JG Ballard’s beautiful novel – I have yet again detected Spielberg fiddling with the perception of the world – using his usual method of precise omission. Jim declares that he has become an ‘atheist’ – but Spielberg censors-out the fact that he is also thinking of joining the Communist Party. Chiang Kai-Shek made a habit of beheading any caught Communist guerrillas – placing their heads on spikes in the centre of Shanghai for all to see. Jim had become impressed with the Communist Unions that agitated for the rights of workers employed by ‘White’ Europeans (such as his father) – and the battle waged by Mao Zedong and his forces living in the hills (a famous Chinese actress had resigned from her lavish profession in the Movies and the cinemas – and had joined Mao Zedong’s Communist guerrillas) – all omitted by Spielberg.
