The Railway Man

The Railway Man is the screen adaptation of the bestselling autobiography of the same name by Eric Lomax.

As a British Army Officer during the surrender of Singapore, he along with hundreds of other soldiers became prisoners of World War II in Japan.

All were sent to work on the notorious Burma Siam Railway, also known as the death railway. There they faced unbelievable levels of brutality and extreme torture from the military secret police.

Thirty years later and suffering from the psychological trauma of his experiences, Lomax set out to confront the man who tortured him.

But what would you do if you met the man who has destroyed your life? Will it help Eric (Colin Firth) heal his emotional scars or will he take vengeance?

With the loving support of his wife Patti (Nicole Kidman), Lomax travels to Thailand to confront his past in an attempt to let go of a lifetime of bitterness and hate.

The Railway Man Official Trailer

Is The Railway Man Worth Watching?

There are a lot of movies based on World War II. However, few have ever approached the subject of the trauma that followed when the war ended.

This is Eric Lomax's story, but the screenwriters Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson do a great job of relaying this story in a factual yet poignant way.

The Railway Man can be a little confusing as it leaps back and forth in time. In the blink of an eye, we go from touching sentiment to brutality as the timelines jump around.

That said, The Railway Man is a fine piece of movie-making. The fact that it is also a true story about a Japanese prisoner of war makes it even more powerful.

The cast does an incredible job with Stellen Skarsgard incredible as Eric's closest friend and ex-prisoner Finlay.

Overall, The Railway Man transcends the usual wartime stories and becomes an inspiring tale about forgiveness and love.

Is The Railway Man A True Story?

Yes, The Railway Man is a true story based on the 1995 autobiographical book by Eric Lomax.

The book recounts his experiences as a prisoner of war and being forced to help build the Thai–Burma Railway for the Japanese military.

The book won numerous awards including the NCR Book Award and the PEN/Ackerley Prize for autobiography.

The Railway Man Cast

Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, The Railway Man is a beautifully balanced film, but ultimately it is brought to life by a wonderful cast.

Colin Firth (The King's Speech) as Eric Lomax, a former British army officer who was sent to Japanese labor camp during the second world war.

Jeremy Irvine as Young Eric Lomax

Nicole Kidman as Patricia Lomax, Eric's wife known in the film as Patti Wallace.

Stellan Skarsgård (Andor) as Finlay, Eric's best friend and prisoner of war

Sam Reid as Young Finlay

Hiroyuki Sanada as Takashi Nagase, a Japanese officer in the war camp

Tanroh Ishida as Young Takashi Nagase