• Home
• /
• Movie Reviews

The Railway Man

When Lomax is captured by the Japanese in Singapore, he is sent to a prisoner of war camp and forced to work on the building of the Thai-Burmese Railway.

Based on the harrowing yet heartwarming true story by British World War II officer Eric Lomax, The Railway Man boasts Colin Firth in the starring role.

When Lomax is captured by the Japanese in Singapore, he is sent to a prisoner of war camp and forced to work on the building of the Thai-Burmese Railway.

Lomax survives this hellish period, in which he is tortured and witnesses the disgusting treatment of his fellow captives, but survives. Years later continues to suffer from the trauma of his experience.

With the help of his wife Patti (Nicole Kidman), the former army man decides to track down one of his Japanese torturers in an attempt to heal the psychological scars.

“Lomax found heroism in compassion, and that attitude is what audiences are bound to connect with so deeply here, even if such an outcome proves almost anti-dramatic onscreen,” said Peter Debruge of Variety.

“You’d have to be pretty hard-hearted not to be moved by this tale’s final destination, even if the route there is somewhat circuitous,” said Mark Kermode of The Observer.