Prisoners of the Sun

The war crimes trial and other events portrayed in this film are based on the recollections of Captain John Williams, the Australian prosecutor during the war crimes trails on Ambon and on official records. The trial was a significant one for Australia, convened due to the fact that three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Most of the Japanese characters are based on real Japanese soldiers. Ninety-three Japanese soldiers were tried and four were executed for their mistreatment of soldiers and civilian prisoners. (Note: John Williams is the father of the film's writer/ producer, Brian A. Williams.)