The Way Back (2010)

"We've All Been There."

Directed by Peter Weir
Produced by Peter Weir, Joni Levin, Duncan Henderson, Nigel Sinclair, Scott Rudin
Screenplay by Peter Weir, Keith Clarke
Based on "The Long Walk" by Sławomir Rawicz
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell
Music by Burkhard Dallwitz
Cinematography: Russell Boyd
Edited by Lee Smith
Production company: National Geographic Films, Spitfire Pictures, Imagenation Abu Dhabi, Film Fund Luxembourg
Distributed by Newmarket Films, Exclusive Film Distribution, Meteor Pictures
Release date: 26 November 2010 (Norway)
Country:  Bulgaria, India, Morocco, Australia

Running time: 127 minutes
Budget: $30 million
Box office: $20,348,249

"The Way Back" is an adventure drama history film directed by Peter Weir abd inspired by "The Long Walk" (1956), the memoir by former Polish POW Sławomir Rawicz, who escaped from a Soviet Gulag. During World War II, after the Soviet invasion of Poland, young Polish military officer Janusz Wieszczek is held as a POW and interrogated by the NKVD. The Soviets, unable to get him to say he is a spy, take into custody his wife from whom they extort a statement condemning him. He is sentenced to 20 years in a Gulag labour camp deep in Siberia.There Janusz meets those with whom he later plans an escape: an American engineer Mr. Smith, an actor Khabarov, a hardened Russian criminal Valka, a Polish artist Tomasz, a Latvian priest Voss, a Pole suffering from night blindness Kazik and a Yugoslavian accountant Zoran. Khabarov secretly tells Janusz that he is planning to escape south to Mongolia, passing Lake Baikal. Mr. Smith cautions Janusz that it is Khabarov's way to discuss escape plans with newcomers, to maintain his morale, but nothing will come of it. At times Janusz seems to hallucinate the front door of a country home and adjoing window ledge, which holds plants and a rock he attempts to reach for. Janusz follows through with the escape with Mr. Smith, Valka, Voss, Tomasz, Zoran, and Kazik during a severe snowstorm that covers their tracks. However, will all of them get home?

Cast

• Jim Sturgess as Janusz Wieszczek
• Colin Farrell as Valka
• Ed Harris as Mr. Smith
• Saoirse Ronan as Irena Zielińska
• Mark Strong as Khabarov
• Dragoş Bucur as Zoran
• Gustaf Skarsgård as Voss
• Alexandru Potocean as Tomasz

The director of the film, Peter Weir, is also known with his works like "Witness", "Dead Poets Society", "Green Card", "The Truman Show" and "Master and Commander". "The Way Back" has an interesting plot, a wonderful cast, majestic views. Everything is at a high level. Moreover, the film was nominated for the "Academy Award" for "Best Makeup".

As for the cast, it's excellent. Jim Sturgess surprised me. His Janusz turned out very believable. The person, who has been betrayed and sentenced to 20 years in a Gulag labour camp deep in Siberia, but he finds strength to escape in spite of obscurity. Colin Farrell as Valka is a Russian with strong Irish accent. But that's the only disadvantage of showing his character. In other respects Colin coped perfectly with his part: a cruel man from the outside however he's afraid of authorities. Oh, lovely Saoirse Ronan. Her character is difficult and strong as well. A girl with a secret and hard lot. I've believed Saoirse as always because she's talented and I find difficulty not to agree with it.

Advantages

• Colin Farrell as Valka
• Ed Harris as Mr. Smith
• Saoirse Ronan as Irena Zielińska
• Mark Strong as Khabarov

Disadvantages

• Going and going, going and going...

"Strangenesses"

• There are animals in the forest, aren't they?

Clue Moments

• The Gulag labour camp deep in Siberia
• A forest

First of all, it's necessary to mention that the ideology of "The Way Home" was accepted much better in the West, than it did in Russia. The twentieth century experienced two global problems: fascism and communism. The film accords with the vision of Russia from the West: Hitler and Stalin were seen as two major threats to the apollonian order, because neither of these political systems was not acceptable for developed countries. And if about fascism has been said enough, Peter Weir decided to demonstrate the communist threat. It was very metaphorical to show it through multinational company political prisoners running from a Siberian labour camp through Mongolia, the Gobi desert, the Himalayas and India. 

Freedom always attracts people. And some of them presses towards it. But others are afraid of freedom. Each of us must make an own choice.

Soundtracks

1. Burkhard Dallwitz - Interrogation
2. Burkhard Dallwitz - New Arrivals
3. Burkhard Dallwitz - Plans for Escape
4. Burkhard Dallwitz - A Brave Man
5. Burkhard Dallwitz - Escape
6. Burkhard Dallwitz - Lake Baikal
7. Burkhard Dallwitz - Freedom?
8. Burkhard Dallwitz - Mirages Don't Have Birds
9. Burkhard Dallwitz - The Abandoned Temple
10. Burkhard Dallwitz - Water!
11. Burkhard Dallwitz - Tibet
12. Burkhard Dallwitz - India
13. Burkhard Dallwitz - Keep On Walking
14. Burkhard Dallwitz - Closing Credits

Quotations

* * *

Valka: You say too many prayers for an innocent man.

* * *

Mr. Smith: Kindness. That will kill you here.

* * *

Mr. Smith: You should be grateful we are here at all.
Valka: Grateful is for dogs.

* * *

Valka: Don't you know what "Stalin" means, funny man? Means man-of-steel. He takes from rich, and gives to poor.

* * *

Valka: Prison is okay. Debt is bad. But there are many prisons, they don't find me.
Zoran: What about America?
Valka: Oh, it's not for me, freedom. I wouldn't know what to do with it, I swear to God.

* * *

Janusz: We are not criminals. We are escaping from criminals.

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Acting: 7/10

Originality: 6/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10