Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, The Way Back is based on the memoir of Stawomir Rawicz (titled The Long Walk), and chronicles the journey undertaken by a small group of men that escaped a Soviet Gulag in the inhospitable wilderness of Siberia, and walked a distance of over 4,000 miles; through the frozen Siberian forests, the Gobi Desert, into Tibet, and over the Himalayas; to find their freedom in India.
Jim Sturgess (21) leads the cast as Janusz; a Polish soldier desperate to return home to his wife; and is joined by Colin Farrell (Phone Booth); as a criminal named Valka, who’s handy with a blade; Ed Harris (Appaloosa); an American engineer; and Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones); as a young girl who hooks up with the bunch in Siberia.
Directed by Peter Weir (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), The Way Back tells an epic tale of survival; as the men (and girl) have to force themselves to march ever onwards, or risk death in any number of ways; with lives being threatened by the freezing cold, the blistering heat, the plagues of mosquitos, and the lack of food and water, to name a few, and the emotions, strength, skills, and willpower, of everyone involved get tested to the limit, and then some.
Despite the early talk of potential Oscars ahead for The Way Back, it’s only receiving a very limited release in the United States (on December 29th), but will be hitting cinemas across the U.K. and Ireland on December 26th (Boxing Day), and for anyone that wants an early look at some footage, the film’s official trailer can be seen below.
