Back home

The Way Back

1695 votes

Producing House

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.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 2010-11-22

Runtime: 133 mins

Director: Peter Weir

Spoken language: English, Polski, Pусский

Genres: Drama, Adventure, History

Original title: The Way Back

Production Companies: Exclusive Media, National Geographic Films, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Exclusive Films, Monolith Films

Production Countries: Poland, United Arab Emirates, United States of America

Reviews

W

Wuchak
***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-
2019-10-23

t

tanty
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.
2013-11-26

Recommendations

Casablanca
4.1

Casablanca

1943-01-15

In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with un

The Science of Sleep
3.5

The Science of Sleep

2006-06-25

A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is lovestruck with a French woman and feels he can sho

Das Boot
4

Das Boot

1981-09-17

A German submarine hunts allied ships during the Second World War, but it soon becomes the hunted. T

The Lives of Others
4

The Lives of Others

2006-03-23

In 1984 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and h

Solaris
3.9

Solaris

1972-03-20

A psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris to investigate the death

Out of Africa
3.6

Out of Africa

1985-12-20

Tells the life story of Danish author Karen Blixen, who at the beginning of the 20th century moved t

Downfall
3.9

Downfall

2004-09-16

In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the ea

The Killing Fields
3.7

The Killing Fields

1984-11-23

New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg is on assignment covering the Cambodian Civil War, with the

Stalag 17
3.8

Stalag 17

1953-05-29

It's a dreary Christmas 1944 for the American POWs in Stalag 17 and the men in Barracks 4, all serge

Soldier of Orange
3.5

Soldier of Orange

1977-09-22

The lives of Erik Lanshof and five of his closest friends take different paths when the German army

Life Is Beautiful
4.2

Life Is Beautiful

1997-12-20

A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale

The Tin Drum
3.5

The Tin Drum

1979-05-02

In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of

The Marriage of Maria Braun
3.7

The Marriage of Maria Braun

1979-03-23

Maria marries a young soldier in the last days of World War II, only for him to go missing in the wa

Pearl Harbor
3.5

Pearl Harbor

2001-05-21

The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the

The Living Daylights
3.3

The Living Daylights

1987-06-29

After a defecting Russian general reveals a plot to assassinate foreign spies, James Bond is assigne

The Last Emperor
3.8

The Last Emperor

1987-10-04

A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign

Berlin Tunnel 21
3.3

Berlin Tunnel 21

1981-03-25

In Berlin in 1961, an American soldier and a German engineer join forces to build a tunnel under the

Sunflower
3.8

Sunflower

1970-03-14

After World War II, a woman refuses to believe her husband, missing on the Russian front, is dead. F

Ankle Bone
2.3

Ankle Bone

1968-12-19

While escaping from prison to be with her lesbian friend, a 19-year-old girl breaks her ankle and is

Goodbye Bafana
3.5

Goodbye Bafana

2007-02-11

The true story of a white South African racist whose life was profoundly altered by the black prison