The Way Back
The Way Back
Score: C+
Director: Peter Weir
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Main Actors: Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell
Suggested mood/setting to be in: Sleepy or worn out.
Summary: "The Way Back" is based on the true story of escapists from a Siberian prison during World War II and their journey from Siberia to India. While it is an impressive and unimaginable feat, the movie drags on and makes you feel like you're the one simply surviving for the long 133 minute film that spoils the ending with a caption at the very beginning.
THE FACTS
In 1940, after Russia and Germany have invaded Poland, a Polish man by the name of Janusz (Sturgess) is sentenced to ten years in a Siberian prison after being accused of being a spy. The evidence, of which, was reported by his wife who was tortured until confessing to the false accusations against her husband. When Janusz arrives at the prison, he befriends several inmates: notably an American named Mr. Smith (Harris) and a murderer named Valka (Farrell). Along with these two and several others, Janusz escapes from the prison during a blizzard and the group begin their epic journey to freedom.
While in Siberia, the group loses one member almost instantly, but they continue on. Janusz leaves the group for a few days to find the lake they're looking for and once he finds it he returns and leads the rest to it. While walking towards the South (in order to get out of Russia and into Mongolia), along the lake, the group discovers a girl named Irena (played by Saoirse Ronan of The Lovely Bones) and they eventually take her along.
For the next several days, Irena helps the group know each better, but their luck changes after they get away from the lake. Once away from the lake, Valka decides to abandon the group and stay on the run in Russia. The rest reach the Mongolian border to discover Mongolia has also turned Communist. Realizing they can't find safety there, they march forward towards Tibet in hopes of crossing the Himalayas there and finding sanctuary in British controlled India. Unfortunately, though, that means crossing countless miles of desert. The desert proves treacherous and the group loses two more, including the young Irena and they very nearly lose Mr. Smith, as well.
By the time the group escapes the desert, there are only four men left. They make their way into Tibet where they are given shelter. At this point, Mr. Smith says goodbye to the group in favor of getting help from an American base in China. The last three, led by Janusz make their way safely across the Himalayas and into India. Although safe, the journey for Janusz is far from over. He waits for over forty years until Poland is freed in 1989 before returning to his home where he finds his lonely wife waiting for him and for forgiveness.
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
The Way Back is an incredible story that seems impossible and unbelievable. The fact that it's a true story is, of course, amazing, but the film dampens the sensationalism of the epic story. In fact, the first 30 seconds of the film spoils the entire thing. Immediately, there is a dedication that spells out exactly how many survivors there end up being and what gender they are. Not a great start to a movie about survival.
The majority of the film focuses on the struggle to survive, which includes hunting for food and searching for water, with very little action in between. As mentioned in "The Facts" section of this review, the group travels through Siberia, across a desert and over the Himalayas, but the most engaging part of the film is the beginning in the Siberian camp. The harsh conditions and planning end up being more interesting than the actual journey, which shouldn't be the case.
Also, the film spends only about 10 or 15 minutes in the camp, about forty minutes trekking through Siberia and nearly an hour crossing the desert. By the time the four survivors make it to Tibet, there's no time left in the already long film to see them cross the Himalayas. Rather, there's about 10 seconds of footage of them walking on a mountain before the film cuts to the green mountainside in India. It's almost as if to say "crossing Siberia and the desert were difficult, but walking over the Himalayas in the middle of winter is nothing".
After being welcomed by the locals, the film presents a montage of news events for the next forty plus years regarding the rise and fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Cut to 1989 and the film ends with Janusz returning home to his wife, now both elderly. Although it's supposed to be touching, the audience can't help but feel tired of the film and little unsure if the ending was real or just an "artistic license" version of the truth.
ACTING
The cast for this film was big, but somewhat disappointing. It's not that the acting wasn't good, but there just wasn't much to act. The entire film is portraying helplessness, hunger, thirst and exhaustion. Ed Harris played a fun character, one of only three you can clearly remember and distinguish from the rest. Jim Sturgess, as Janusz, also played a good part and, along with Harris' character Mr. Smith, portrayed a character that the audience felt something for. Colin Farrell was, well, Colin Farrell-ish. His character was annoying and rude and I was glad when he left the group halfway through. Surprisingly, Saoirse Ronan of The Lovely Bones was not a stand out, aside from the fact that she was the only female. I don't believe it's her fault, though. Her character was OK, but I, and seemingly the rest of the audience, felt little emotional connection to her. She also looked years older than her and her character's age, which I think distanced the audience from her situation.
DIRECTION/CINEMATOGRAPHY
Perter Weir has directed fantastic films like The Dead Poet's Society, Witness, Master and Commander (which I've yet to watch) and Truman Show, but this shouldn't be included in that list. Yes, there were some dramatic shots and beautiful scenery, but the film dragged on for far too long. There was little variety in the mood and rather than feeling hopeful for the characters, I felt tired and worn out. Perhaps that's the feel that Weir was going for, but if that's the case then he shouldn't have.
He did, however, do a great job with the Siberian prison scene. The shots were well planned and the atmosphere he created was believable and engaging. His ability to recreate that type of setting and those extreme conditions is praiseworthy.
WHY I GAVE IT A C+
The epic true story of The Way Back is phenomenal and impressive, but on film that just does not translate. Perhaps the story is too big for the big screen, but the sad fact is that by the time you've finished the 2 hour and 13 minute film you feel as worn out and tired as the characters themselves.