Comments on: Was the coin even important?

Question: Was the coin even important?

cmyk — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:32:36 -0800

Help me identify a movie I barely remember. Coins, pools, abandoned houses, and maybe a war?

A boy is given a coin by his father, and he throws it (or drops it) into the swimming pool behind his home. Much later, he returns to the house, now abandoned, and he finds the coin in the bottom of the dry pool. I want to say the family left because of a war, not a natural disaster.

That's really all I've got, except that the movie was on video in the mid to late eighties. It's been tickling my brain, on and off, ever since -- and I was maybe five when I saw this! Help?

By: FreezBoy

FreezBoy — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:33:30 -0800

That's from Empire of the Sun

By: FreezBoy

FreezBoy — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:10 -0800

To answer your question if the coin is important, I vaguely remember the father throwing the coin into the pool during a party (perhaps cinematically to illustrate their wealth), and then later when he returns home after getting separated from them, finds the coin in the bottom of the pool. Of course it doesn't help because at that point he's in need of food and the money is useless.

By: cmyk

cmyk — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:45:01 -0800

Fantastic! Thank you.

I have to go rent this, now.

By: snsranch

snsranch — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:03:44 -0800

I know this is answered already, but I have to say that this is one of my favorite films of all time. Christian Bale, playing Jamie (Jim), was amazing.

By: Poolio

Poolio — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:48:08 -0800

It's one of my favorite movies too.

By: The Deej

The Deej — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:35:13 -0800

That is an awesome and underrated movie. Rent it? Heck no, buy it! Stunning cinematography, great story.

By: steef

steef — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 05:39:35 -0800

Loosely based on author J.G. Ballard's experiences in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Great movie. P51 Mustang! Cadillac of the sky!

By: languagehat

languagehat — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:01:08 -0800

The book is excellent, by the way.

By: londongeezer

londongeezer — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 08:58:17 -0800

2nding languagehat, book as good as film if not...