The railway man screenwriter talks films torture, ptsd. Army officer, who was tortured as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war ii, discovers that the man responsible for much of his treatment is still alive and sets out to confront him. He remembered how nagase would bark at him in broken english, accusing him of being a spy, while the other japanese soldiers tortured him. Apr 17, 2014 but the railway man is a story that must be told and we in turn must bear the viewing experience, if only to confirm the lasting impact of war on the individual. The railway man, a true tale of wartime torment and reconciliation. Apr 11, 2014 the railway man begins awkwardly with the dying lomax mumbling a fragment of a poem that never amounts to much. April 11, 2014 based on the bestselling novel of the same name, the railway man tells the extraordinary and epic true story of eric lomax oscar winner colin firth, the kings speech, a british army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war ii. The railway man is a good movie with great actors that failed to hit the mark. Control railway traffic without crashing any trains. This included being beaten, kicked, waterboarded and locked up in a bamboo cage the size of a large dog crate. The critical problems are an overbusy timejumping script and reliance on the. A journey beyond hatred patti lomax, the widow of the man behind the railway man and the woman played by nicole kidman in the. The railway man movie clip still at war 2014 colin firth, nicole kidman wwii movie hd.
A former british army officer, who was tortured as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war ii, discovers that the man responsible for much of his treatment is still alive and sets out to confront him. That question occurred to me while watching the railway man, an unabashedly stodgy, highminded film in the david lean tradition without the grandeur, starring colin firth as eric lomax, a british army officer who served and suffered during world war ii. The railway man 2014 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Strictly speaking, this is a ptsd melodrama, and it has a. A look at the story behind wwii movie the railway man. But the railway man is a story that must be told and we in turn must bear the viewing experience, if only to confirm the lasting impact of war on the individual. The railway man is part love story, part war movie, part suspense.
The railway man synopsis the thrilling true story of eric lomax, a man haunted by his experiences in the war, has been brought to life in a film starring colin firth and nicole kidman. With colin firth, nicole kidman, stellan skarsgard, jeremy irvine. The railway man eric sutherland lomax 30 may 1919 8 october 2012 1 was a british army officer who was sent to a japanese prisonerofwar camp in 1942. I think what is not often addressed is the effect over time. On an afternoon in 1983, eric lomax colin firth, a quiet, middleaged radio and railway enthusiast meets bubbly patti. Erics astonishing story is told in new movie the railway man, starring colin firth as the quiet university lecturer, who died in 2012 after. A war drama, about a middleaged englishman struggling to deal with longburied trauma resulting from his time in a japanese prison camp during world. Popular videos the railway man the railway man topic. It premiered at the 20 toronto international film festival on 6 september 20. The radio times tribute to 50 years of the groundbreaking comedy group.
On his return from war, eric is tormented by his memories and trapped by a code of silence that will destroy him, until the determination of the woman he loves gives him the strength to face and survive the battlefield. For a film based on an extraordinarily touching true story, the railway man is distractingly stagey. Its drawn from the memoir of eric lomax, a scottish engineer and railway buff, who was captured by the japanese in 1942. Based on the remarkable bestselling autobiography, the railway man tells the extraordinary and epic true. Flicking back and forth in time may not make for a smooth narrative. We do sometimes see stories about what its like coming home from. In the annoying framing device that flashes back and forth in time far too frequently, we see lomax and patti meet cute on a train.
Eric lomax, a world war ii british army officer who was captured and forced to work on the notorious death railway, sets out to find those responsible for his t. The difference being this at times visceral movie is intensely personal and if you dont get the picture having seen it then i suggest you stick to the current trend for franchises of comic heroes. On an afternoon in 1983, eric lomax colin firth, a quiet, middleaged radio and railway enthusiast. You can stop and start the trains at the control square spots by clicking on the squares on the railway. The movie tells the true story of what the empire of japan did in southeast asia in world war ii, and the true story of the difference a committed and determined love made for a survivor. Teplitzky depicts it all in an artfully staged and lighted fashion. Based on the remarkable bestselling autobiography, the railway man tells the extraordinary and epic true story of eric lomax colin firth, a british army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war ii.
Railway man true story vs movie real eric lomax, takashi nagase. I had picked up the book years before at the thai burma railway centre opposite the kanchanaburi war cemetery who stocked it. The railway man begins awkwardly with the dying lomax mumbling a fragment of a poem that never amounts to much. In another time and place, it could have been oscar bait. Get the latest movie times, trailers and celebrity interviews. Nov 27, 20 the railway man synopsis the thrilling true story of eric lomax, a man haunted by his experiences in the war, has been brought to life in a film starring colin firth and nicole kidman. Colin firth grippingly portrays a former wwii soldier who confronts his torturer later in life in the absorbing railway man. The railway man 2014, directed by jonathan teplitzky film. Apr 11, 2014 the railway man jumps back and forth between lomax and finlay remembering this harrowing time and images of the torture itself. The railway man packs an emotional punch to move even the coldest heart. Railway man true story vs movie real eric lomax, takashi. The railway man is a 20 britishaustralian war film directed by jonathan teplitzky.
Read the the railway man movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. It does its best to honor the unique compassion of the account without succumbing to schmaltz or banal arthouse prestige. Railway man has colin firth on the brain the boston globe. The success rate here is a little better than half. The railway man 2014 cast and crew eric lomax colin firth, a former british army officer and pow, discovers that the japanese interpreter who tortured him is still alive. The railway man is so touching film about war and wars trauma. It starts off with a middleaged meetcute on a train where we encounter colin firth as eric lomax, a dweeby trainspotter who needs to be brought out of. The railway man 2014, directed by jonathan teplitzky. From this deathbed scene, the film dips back to 1980 and a british veterans. There are so many big names in the railway man that i expected it to be nothing but brilliant. The railway man movie poster the railway man narrates the unspeakable horrors british prisoners of war, most specifically eric lomax, endured in the hands of their japanese captors after the fall of singapore and the building of the illfamed burma railway dubbed as the death railway. Based on eric lomaxs bestselling memoir, the railway man is an inspiring true story of heroism, humanity and the redeeming power of love. Jeremy irvine eric lomax young stellan skarsgard finlay.
The railway man 2014 eric lomax colin firth, a former british army officer and pow, discovers that the japanese interpreter who tortured him is still alive. If the railway man, like many films about combat, is reflexively. Find the railway man showtimes for local movie theaters. Colin firth gave a wonderful performance that must be reward with an oscar nomination or maybe winning, because he is all talent. Jan 07, 2014 erics astonishing story is told in new movie the railway man, starring colin firth as the quiet university lecturer, who died in 2012 after a long illness, and nicole kidman as his wife. Watch the world exclusive first trailer for the railway man, the true life account of a former prisonerofwars horrific experiences on the burma railway. But this version is pulled in two different directions.
The railway man is a lesser movie than it should be, packaged as it is with gorgeous cinematography, atmospheric music, and a starstudded cast. The railway man ponders reconciliation rather than revenge. He is most notable for his book, the railway man, about his experiences before, during, and after world war ii, which won the 1996 ncr book award and the penackerley prize. Youll have to complete your refund and exchange before the posted showtime indicated on your ticket. On his return from war, eric is tormented by his memories and trapped by a code of silence that will destroy him, until the determination of the woman he loves gives him the strength to face and survive the battlefield of his mind. Like i didnt understand yet that there are experiences you cant walk away from, and that there is no statute of limitations on the effects of torture. It starts as what appears to be a romance, an exploration of the relationship between.
Movie showtimes data provided by webedia entertainment and is subject to change. The railway man comes as politicians debate the release of a report that details some of the cias actions under george w. The railway man times favorite theater button overview. Check out this behind the scenes look at bad boys for life. The railway man is probably the best film you havent seen this year. Its drawn from the memoir of eric lomax, a scottish engineer and railway buff, who was captured by the japanese in 1942 after the fall of singapore and put to work. Based on the remarkable bestselling autobiography, the railway man tells the. Released late in 20 the railway man was a book by expow eric lomax a british soldier.
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