Jeremy irvine, and academy awardwinner nicole kidman, the film is. Though it premiered in toronto last fall, the railway man is being released only now by the weinstein company. This included being beaten, kicked, waterboarded and locked up in a bamboo cage the size of a large dog crate. Apr 11, 2014 the railway man jumps back and forth between lomax and finlay remembering this harrowing time and images of the torture itself. The heartbreaking history of the railway man arts the. The film, directed by jonathan teplitzky burning man from a screen adaptation of lomaxs 1995 memoir, tells the true story of his brutal. From this deathbed scene, the film dips back to 1980 and a british veterans club where lomax regales his friends with his story of recently meeting patti nicole kidman. The railway man tells the true story of a world war ii veteran mentally broken by his experiences in the war, living a lonely, isolated life, and trying to come to grips as best he can with. The railway man unites nicole kidman and colin firth in. Based on a true story, the railway man tell the story of eric lomax colin firth, a former pow at a japanese camp during world war 2. The railway man dvd austin public library bibliocommons. The railway man screenwriter talks films torture, ptsd. In kidmans latest film, the railway man, she plays patti lomax, the wife of a former prisoner of war who suffered terrible torture building the burma railway.
The railway man is an evocative, intelligent, and well made dramatic film based upon the real life story told by eric lomax in his published autobiography. But its a film that is wellsuited to both of their talents. Dec 28, 20 eric lomaxs book, the railway man, about his experience as a japanese prisoner of war has inspired a major new film. Based on the remarkable bestselling autobiography, the railway man tells the extraordinary and epic true story of eric lomax colin firth, a british army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war ii. The railway man eric sutherland lomax 30 may 1919 8 october 2012 1 was a british army officer who was sent to a japanese prisonerofwar camp in 1942. John mccarthy, a journalist who was held hostage for five years, described lomaxs book as an extraordinary story of torture and. Film guide international day of peace, 21 sep a film guide that looks at the railway man 20, exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion. The astonishing story of world war ii veteran eric lomax will be told in a new movie, the railway man, starring colin firth and nicole kidman. Dec 26, 20 in kidmans latest film, the railway man, she plays patti lomax, the wife of a former prisoner of war who suffered terrible torture building the burma railway. While this film deals with some of the same issues as the bridge on the river kwai, it is a different tale, focussing on the railway man in brutal captivity and his relations with the heroine, his new wife, after the war. Normally i do not read anything that even has violence in it, but the way the pastor described the story i had to read it. Feb 07, 2014 the railway man brings together two esteemed oscar winners, nicole kidman and colin firth, for the first time in their careers. Railway man true story vs movie real eric lomax, takashi. Eric lomax joined the british army royal corps of signals in 1939 and soon after he volunteered for.
A look at the story behind wwii movie the railway man. Railway man on imdb the railway man at allmovie pathe news footage of the real railway. The film is a dramatized version telling his story with academy award winners colin firth the kings speech, bridget jones diary and nicole kidman birth, the hours in the leading roles. The railway man brings together two esteemed oscar winners, nicole kidman and colin firth, for the first time in their careers. The railway man synopsis the thrilling true story of eric lomax, a man haunted by his experiences in the war, has been brought to life in a film starring colin firth and nicole kidman travel. Dec 23, 20 the railway man, a film based on the story of pow eric lomax, gives two sides of a dark tale. Instead, it is the true story of the struggles of a man in love with railways as he is captured by the japanese and forced to help build the burma. Nicole kidman, colin firth railway man movie drama, ww. I had heard about this book during a sermon a few weeks ago.
Eric lomaxs book, the railway man, about his experience as a japanese prisoner of war has inspired a major new film. From this deathbed scene, the film dips back to 1980 and a british veterans. Based on a true story, its also a tale of love and redemption, two of the cinemas and literatures greatest themes. The scenes in the railway man showing the brutality inflicted on lomax and his. In the film, patti cant get the story out of him, so she talks instead to his.
Oct 10, 2012 lomaxs autobiography the railway man was published in 1995. Its a tense story about one of the great horrors of world war two. The movie depicts eric colin firth meeting with his unsuspecting former captor in order to seek retribution, only to change his mind during the encounter. Nicole kidman, colin firth railway man movie drama, ww ii. The railway man is a reminder of the madness of war that reached beyond those wellknown battle fields and the profound effects it had on individuals who fought in the southeast asia region. The railway man 2014 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The railway man dvd the indianapolis public library. Yesterday i saw the railway man and cant understand why the critics have been so dismissive. The railway man is a 20 britishaustralian war film directed by jonathan teplitzky. Here, kidman and the reallife patti talk about the relationship they forged. Wwii movie the railway man is a moving account of a prisoner of wars experience in war, in love, hating, forgiving and moving on.
Based on a true story, the railway man opens in 1980 england as colin firth plays eric lomax, a former british officer and prisoner of war who was interred by. The railway man packs an emotional punch to move even the coldest heart. It seems an odd choice, given aprils status as the cruelest month for movies, for the railway man is a powerful film that deserves a better viewing season based like the upcoming unbroken on an amazing true story and peopled with oscarwinning actors delivering strong. The railway man begins awkwardly with the dying lomax mumbling a fragment of a poem that never amounts to much. John mccarthy, a journalist who was held hostage for five years in lebanon, described lomaxs book as, an extraordinary story of torture and reconciliation. The story begins in 1980 where he meets patti nicole kidman on a train.
The railway man sees nicole kidman and colin firth star in a love story haunted by torture and war. The railway man synopsis the thrilling true story of eric lomax, a man haunted by his experiences in the war, has been brought to life in a film starring colin firth and nicole kidman. Lomaxs autobiography the railway man was published in 1995. Years later, and still suffering the psychological trauma of his wartime experiences, lomax is persuaded by his wife patti to find and.
The railway man downloadable video san antonio public. Forced to help their enemies with the construction of the burma railway, they are tortured by their captors should they refuse to cooperate. Lomax was liberated in 1945, but be was haunted by the experience decades later, where the film begins it story. The railway man, a film based on the story of pow eric lomax, gives two sides of a dark tale. A remarkable film in every way, it relates the true story of eric lomax. Apr 11, 2014 the railway man begins awkwardly with the dying lomax mumbling a fragment of a poem that never amounts to much. The railway man unites nicole kidman and colin firth in a. The movie tells the true story of what the empire of japan did in southeast asia in world war ii, and the true story of the difference a committed and determined love made for a survivor. But his first family were written out of the story by lomax himself.
Based on the remarkable bestselling autobiography, the railway man tells the extraordinary and epic true story of eric lomax colin firth, a british army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of. However, the railway man true story reveals that, unlike the film, the real eric lomaxs intention was more about finding closure rather than seeking revenge. The railway man won the ncr book award in 1996 and the penackerley award. Eric lomax is one of many british soldiers caught by japanese forces and imprisoned in a labour camp during world war two. For a film based on an extraordinarily touching true story, the railway man is distractingly stagey. And whereas there was no signs of redemption in the bridge this film is. A journey beyond hatred patti lomax, the widow of the man behind the railway man and the woman played by nicole kidman in the film, reflects on her late husbands capacity to forgive. The railway man jumps back and forth between lomax and finlay remembering this harrowing time and images of the torture itself. The railway man is the extraordinary true story of eric lomax, a british army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war.
This guide is useful for exploring topics including citizenship, literacy, history, psychology and pshe education in addition to. The railway man is the extraordinary true story of eric lomax, a british army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a japanese labor camp during world war ii, survives, is rescued, but is haunted by his past. Teplitzky depicts it all in an artfully staged and lighted fashion. The story begins in 1980 where he meets patti nicole kidman on a. In kidmans latest film, the railway man, she plays patti lomax, the wife of a former.
Colin firth embodies the suffering of eric lomax, a veteran who still experiences posttraumatic nightmares decades after the war. The railway man is the harrowing true story of a british soldier who lived to confront his torturer40 years later. Structurally, the story switches back and forth between what. Railway man true story vs movie real eric lomax, takashi nagase. The railway man turns a true story into a ponderous.
The direction and all the technical contributions are admirable. Nov 18, 20 and colin firth was so taken by that statement he insisted it was the last line in the film. Apr 16, 2014 lomax was liberated in 1945, but be was haunted by the experience decades later, where the film begins it story. Railway man tells the extraordinary and epic true story of eric lomax. The railway man is a sober restrained film for much of its running time. Eric lomax joined the british army royal corps of signals in 1939 and soon after he volunteered for service in defending british singapore from the advancing. Based like the upcoming unbroken on an amazing true story and peopled with oscarwinning actors delivering strong performances, the railway man is a romance, a classic war drama and an. Nov 27, 20 the railway man synopsis the thrilling true story of eric lomax, a man haunted by his experiences in the war, has been brought to life in a film starring colin firth and nicole kidman. A still from one of the scenes of the movie the railway man. A film guide that looks at the railway man 20, a true story in which a victim from world war twos death railway sets out to find those responsible for his torture. Does depicting torture automatically earn a movie three stars or more if it is inspired by a true story. See photos of the real eric lomax and his former tormentor takashi nagase. It premiered at the 20 toronto international film festival on 6 september 20. The railway man is part love story, part war movie, part suspense.
An oldfashioned war drama stuffed into a cumbersomely choppy time structure, the railway man is wellacted and handsomely produced, but. Apr 11, 2014 based on a true story, the railway man opens in 1980 england as colin firth plays eric lomax, a former british officer and prisoner of war who was interred by the japanese in singapore. Apr 10, 2014 it seems an odd choice, given aprils status as the cruelest month for movies, for the railway man is a powerful film that deserves a better viewing season. Based on an autobiography, this film tells the true story of eric lomax, a british army officer who is captured by the japanese during wwii and sent to a pow camp, where he is tortured and forced to work on the thaiburma railway.
It is an adaptation of the 1995 autobiography of the same name by eric lomax, and stars colin firth, nicole kidman, jeremy irvine, and stellan skarsgard. Sep 07, 20 an oldfashioned war drama stuffed into a cumbersomely choppy time structure, the railway man is wellacted and handsomely produced, but its honorable intentions are not matched by sustained. Jan 07, 2014 the astonishing story of world war ii veteran eric lomax will be told in a new movie, the railway man, starring colin firth and nicole kidman. The railway man, a true tale of wartime torment and. It starts off with a middleaged meetcute on a train where we encounter colin firth as eric lomax, a dweeby trainspotter who needs to be brought out of his shell by sweet, cardiganwearing nicole kidman. And colin firth was so taken by that statement he insisted it was the last line in the film. That love at first sight moment in pattis life some 30 years ago is the opening scene of the railway man, a film based on erics life, his harrowing experience as a pow at work in the burma railway during wwii and how he was able to completely forgive his greatest. The railway man dvd johnson county library bibliocommons. Years later, and still suffering the psychological trauma of his wartime experiences, lomax is persuaded by his wife patti to.