I have always been surprised that this film was never a critical sucess. I personally found it to be one of Bruce Beresfords best amongst Crimes of the Heart and Driving Miss Daisy. But I also thought that the acting was exellent. Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and especially Frances McDormand were all superb. One of my favorite films that never really got what it deserved.
shareAgreed this is one of the best films but it gets very little attention or parise.I think this is one of the most unde appriciated films ever!
shareI thought it was a very touching film. I'm surprised its not mentioned more in the context of WWII and POW films.
Remember Us -- 300 (2007)
I agree - it is so underrated. Get the word out and recommend it to your friends and family!
"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
I watched it recently on a sleepless night and thought it would bore me to sleep, but it didn't. It is quite good and reminded me again how fortunate we are to truly have our freedom.
Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?
Agreed. Excellent points. I just watch this movie for the very first time this past weekend while ill and stuck in bed.
I too wondered why it was such a flop.
Here is my theory(s):
It's a hard movie to watch. It's an especially hard movie to watch for its target audience. Let's face it...It's not a family movie. WWII buffs won't go for it. It's not a chick flick. It's not a guy's movie. There's no sex, drugs or rock and roll. It's not a musical but you have to understand the power of music to get the main point of the story.
The only people who would really want to watch this are people who really love a good movie that tells a real story without the paint and glitz. Yet even we had turn away at times. It's a hard movie to watch.
I had never heard this story.
It was a gruesome time. Yet some found the will to live through it and tell their story. I think I might have given up. I don't know. Regardless, it was a story worth telling.
I'm glad they still play it on cable.
I am reading the book "Three came home", by Agnes N. Keith. This depicts the true story of her life being held in captivity for three years in Kuching by the Japanese army in world war II. A very dark period during that time. The movie closely parallels within the book. The film also shares the experiences my mum had as a prisoner survivor when she was a child. A great film vividly telling my mum's story. My mum still lives today and thank you everyday what she is given.
shareAbsolutely agreed. I saw it in the theatre when it first opened and was convinced that Close and McDormand would be Oscar contenders for their performances. And I thought, seeing Blanchett in her first role "Who is this girl? She is phenomenal and is going places!" :)
shareIt is really hard to believe this has a 6.8 score here on IMDB. I cannot figure out why so many object to it? It is a very unique story ... the location work was excellent ... and the performances by GC, CB and FM were off the charts. And let's not forget Pauline Collins as Margaret Drummond!
shareIt's very dark. In fact so dark that I've been avoiding it since it came out in '97 and I heard about the content. Only finally watched it this week.
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