Review of The Railway Man (2013) by Jeffrey M — 08 Aug 2014

Heartfelt from the start, poignant, compelling, and yet strangely subtle, Railway Man is a film of inspiration and one of melancholy, ending on a profound note, if not always achieving that during its run. Based on the autobiography, Railway Man tells the story of a British officer who was brutally treated as a prisoner of war, returned to his country as a man still deeply troubled, continuing the war in his own mind. Enter the lovely Patti Lomax (Nicole Kidman) who pushes Eric to confront his demeans, culminating in a painful confrontation of his past.

The story is told through flashbacks, used interchangeably. These are frequent, and long lasting, which create two worlds that feel very real and well realized, yet can sometimes feel like separate entities, each with their own self-contained stories. Though this is a noted criticism for many, I found that ultimately the structure worked, and was impressed by the strong performances by the cast in both timelines. All performances are understated, as is the film, yet still powerful, headlined by a terrific performance from Colin Firth.

The pace of the film can be slow at parts, yet dead-on in others. One problem that is created is that the momentum is not always carried over to the other storyline (past and present), with some shifts happening rather sporadically. One such shift was the discovery of Firth's post-traumatic stress, which felt oddly at bay at the beginning of the film. Yet, the film's restrained approach to the story showed a much appreciated respect to letting events unfold organically. The characters feel real, their traumas are real, and the film's message is always carried through.

Ultimately, it's the performances that really carry Railway Man to an effective, and moving film. It's a penetrating character study, an exploration of human nature, and an ultimate triumph for forgiveness.

4/5 Stars.