The Way Back [2010]

“The Way Back” is a movie that will definitely appeal to those who appreciate epic landscapes and survival stories. It’s the inspiring and incredible story of  a group of Soviet Gulag prisoners who escaped from a Siberian prison camp in the dead of winter and made their way across Mongolia and the Gobi desert, ending months later in free India. I’m not spoiling anything here since we are told right at the beginning that the movie is dedicated to the men who survived this long journey. Every moment is astonishing and unbelievable. One question was running through my mind the entire time: how the hell did they possibly do that? The answer: by walking. And every step of the way, we are with them. Starvation is a daily possibility, but they managed to get through it. So are injuries, and diseases. Thirst nearly killed them in the desert, but they kept on going.  As Jim Sturgess’s character explains: I have to make it! I found myself rooting for each and every one of those men, eventhough we basically knew nothing about them prior to the escape. “And much like “127 Hours”, I let myself become involved here aswell, and what I got was an extraordinary journey that defies all sense of human effort. “The Way Back” will hold your attention throughout (despite its obvious flaws), and will definitely leave you with a sense of appreciation for the freedom we have. Kudos for director Peter Weir, and for the fantastic cinematography. Now I know that I will never complain about going on a walk ever again.

Rating: 3/4