Mother's heart is ever true

Empire of the Sun is Steven Spielberg’s 1987 film based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel of his experiences in World War II. It follows one small boy—Jamie Graham—living a life of extreme privilege in the European conclave of 1941 Shanghai. During the chaotic evacuation of the city in the face of the Japanese invasion (days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 81 years ago today), Jamie’s separated from his parents, ends up in a POW camp and learns to navigate situations no child and few adults should have to. It’s a film about the losses associated with war, not least that of childhood.

(I think this is one of Spielberg's best films, although it's very difficult for me to watch because of the betrayal of children. How Jamie's parents could not do whatever it took to find him, whatever the circumstances, I do not know.)

This is taking place right now, in Ukraine, in Syria and in other places because we never bloody seem to learn.

Empire begins with Jamie singing “Sûo Gan” in a school choir, under the watchful eye of his Chinese amah. “Sûo Gan” is a Welsh lullaby, not a Christmas carol, but I think we can include it in our Advent just on the grounds of the universality of a mother singing her baby to sleep, reassuring her child that no harm will come to them.

Translated, the song goes:

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.

Sleep, my darling, night is falling
Rest in slumber sound and deep;
I would know why you are smiling,
Smiling sweetly as you sleep!
Do you see the angels smiling
As they see your rosy rest,
So that you must smile an answer
As you slumber on my breast?

Don't be frightened, it's a leaflet
Tapping, tapping on the door;
Don't be frightened, 'twas a wavelet
Sighing, sighing on the shore.
Slumber, slumber, naught can hurt you,
Nothing bring you harm or fright;
Slumber, darling, smiling sweetly
At those angels robed in white

This is the opening sequence of the film, setting the stage for four years of war up close and personal.

May children around the world be defended from this kind of loss.