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The Way Back
Their escape was just the beginning.
A small band of multicultural convicts stages a daring escape from a WWII-era Siberian gulag, and embarks on a treacherous journey across five countries in a desperate race for freedom and survival.
- Original title
- The Way Back
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $30,000,000
- Revenue
- $24,172,201
Wuchak
Oct 23, 2019 · via TMDB
***Better to die free than live under the shackles of communism*** "The Way Back" (2010) takes place circa 1940-42 and details a group's mad escape from a Siberian gulag through the cold, desolate Soviet wilderness into Mongolia, across the great Gobi desert, through mountainous Tibet and ultimately freedom in India. The film was inspired by Slavomir Rawicz' popular book "The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom," but not based on it. After records of Rawicz' release from the gulag by the USSR in 1942 were unearthed the veracity of the book was called into question; others suggest that, although the circumstances of the story may not have happened to author Rawicz, they're apparently based on real events with real individuals, like Polish soldier Witold Glinski. Moreover, in light of the millions of prisoners carted away to Siberia during that time period, isn't it likely that a handful of them successfully escaped and had experiences similar to those shown in this movie (and the book) regardless of whether or not they made it all the way to India? In any event, director Peter Weir has plainly stated that the film is largely fictional and only inspired by the book, which may or may not be a true account. The group's natural leader is Janusz (Jim Sturgess), not because he has any leadership charisma but simply because he spent half his life in the woods and KNOWS how to survive in such an environment. As Solomon said, "A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength." Also along for the haul is a cynical American called Mister Smith (Ed Harris), a Russian hooligan named Valka (Colin Farrell), a comic accountant, an artistic pastry chef, a priest, a Pole with night blindness and a teen-aged girl named Irena, played by Saoirse Ronan, who incidentally celebrated her 16th birthday on the set. This a story of survival. The group faces freezing nights, lack of food & water, bugs, death, the never-ending Gobi desert and the Himalayas, not to mention the inevitable moral questions that arise from such a life or death situation. Some have complained that the film involves too much walking, but that's the whole point: the film's about a 4000-mile escape on foot to freedom. It drives home some powerful messages that will be pondered well after viewing: • The government in communistic or extreme socialistic states is a cold, uncaring, demonic machine that will immediately squelch dissidents through any measure possible, including torturous coercion, slander and execution. • Such godless governments are a vile social infection that spreads and must be escaped at all costs. • Is this socialistic disease now spreading to America? Of course it is and it’s been obvious for quite some time (the Dems). • Better to die free than live in a gulag (aka labor camp or reeducation camp) or under dictatorial socialistic governments. • No matter how bad it is, at least you don't have to live in a gulag. • Mongolians and Tibetans are people of true honor. • Saoirse Ronan is a precious young lady. In addition, the film features a great score and spectacular locations, shot in Bulgaria, Morocco and India. FINAL WORD: "The Way Back" is a must if you love survival stories like "Flight of the Phoenix" (especially the original version) or "Sands of the Kalahari," as well as films like "Lawrence of Arabia," "Black Robe" and "Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan." It's unique but it has the same general tone. Stay away if you have ADHD or solely relish films with conventional Hollywood plotting and roll-your-eyes BS, not that there's anything wrong with that, lol. RUNTIME: 2 hours and 13 minutes. GRADE: A-
Andres Gomez
Nov 26, 2013 · via TMDB
It is always a pleasure to watch one of Ed Harris movies. The plot hooks you and the staging is impressive but the movie is not as thrilling as it could have been.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Spectrum On Demand
Ed Harris
Mr. Smith
Jim Sturgess
Janusz Wieszczek
Saoirse Ronan
Irena Zielińska
Colin Farrell
Valka
Mark Strong
Andrei Khabarov
Gustaf Skarsgård
Andrejs Voss
Dejan Angelov
Andrei
Dragoș Bucur
Zoran
Sally Brunski
Janusz's Wife, 1939
Alexandru Potocean
Tomasz Horodinsky
Sebastian Urzendowsky
Kazik
Zahari Baharov
Interrogator
Ihor Hniezdilov
Bohdan
Stanislav Pishtalov
Commandant
Nikolay Stanoev
Yuri
Stefan Shterev
Cook
Yordan Bikov
Garbage Eater #1
Nikolay Mutafchiev
Guard #1
Valentin Ganev
Guard #2
Anton Trendafilov
Steam Man
Pearce Quigley
The Professor
Sattar Dikambayev
Mongolian Horseman
Hal Yamanouchi
Official
Meglena Karalambova
Janusz's Wife, 1989
Irinei Konstantinov
Janusz, 1989
Russell Boyd
Director of Photography
Simon Varsano
Still Photographer
Greg Funk
Makeup Artist
Danko Jordanov
Stunt Double
Ivailo Dimitrov
Stunt Double
Yana Marinova
Stunt Double
Dian Hristov
Stunts
Elitsa Razheva
Stunts
Georgi Manchev
Stunts
Georgi Stanislavov
Stunts
Stilyan Mavrov
Stunts
Teodor Tzolov
Stunts
Trayan Milenov-Troy
Stunts
Velizar Peev
Stunts
Vencislav Stojanov
Stunts
Zhaidarbek Kunguzhinov
Stunts
Dea Kulumbegashvili
Assistant Director Trainee
Peter Weir
Director
Todor Chapkanov
First Assistant Director
Lee Smith
Editor
Lina Todd
Casting
Mariana Stansheva
Casting
Jake Eberts
Executive Producer
Jonathan Schwartz
Executive Producer
Scott Rudin
Executive Producer
Nigel Sinclair
Producer
Peter Weir
Producer
Richard King
Sound Designer
Ron Bartlett
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Richard King
Supervising Sound Editor
Peter Weir
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Army of Shadows
The Adventures of Werner Holt
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1900
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Underground
1970
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Veer-Zaara
Confidence
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Guerrilla Girl
The Violators
Lenin and the Other Story of the Russian Revolution
Black Book
Ice Cold in Alex
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Lost Feelings
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The Witches of Salem
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The Assault
Aimée & Jaguar
Flame & Citron
Born Free
The Namesake
Special Education
Suicide Mission
White Nights
Jakob the Liar
The Big Red One
A Prayer Before Dawn
Priscilla
The Four Feathers
To Hell and Back
Grown-Up Children
SHTTL
Berlin - Ecke Schönhauser...
Young Guns II
Unpublished Story
The Laws of War
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Billu
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The Spectre of Marxism
Hundswut
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Wunderland
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Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water
The Blood of Others
Zubeidaa
Human Zoo
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Wild Wind
The Singing Forest
Beyond the Known World
Dangerous Paradise
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