'The Way Back' an engrossing drama

Director: Peter Weir

Cast: Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan

The story behind this film is as interesting and intriguing as the film itself in that it is based on what purports to be the ‘true’ account of a remarkable WW2 escape.

It was subsequently revealed in a TV documentary investigation not to be true, the writer was released by the Russians … except that it was true because it was based on the real escape of another man.

Slavomir Rawicz wrote the book about the epic journey made by a group of Poles in 1942 from a Soviet gulag in Siberia across 4,000 miles to India … the Pole who made the real escape was Witold Glinski.

All of which aside, director Weir brings us a gritty, harrowing and engrossing drama that stands on its own merits. Indeed, such an escape and journey – whoever made them – is the stuff of legend.

And from Farrell, Harris and Broadbent we are delivered a trio of outstanding performances in a film that while lacking in an ability to draw warmth towards the characters still delivers a cracking yarn.

Star Rating: 4/5