James Cosmo, Robert Carlyle & the token Hollywood Superstar Keifer Sutherland are the main protagonists here. Playing soldiers captured by the Japanese during World War 2 who are made to build a railway. On its own this is an amazing movie with a brilliant cast (especially the supporting actors) but when you find out at the end it is based on a true story it makes it even better. Some of the atrocities committed by the Japanese are truly awful, beating a prisoner on his 1st day at a camp for disobeying a rule he hadn't even been informed of. Forcing prisoners to sign something that says they won't try to escape. Executing prisoners in cold blood (James Cosmo is murdered for refusing to sign and haranguing the Japanese Commander). The Japanese are constantly referring to Bushido, The Warriors Code of Honour but never once are they honourable in their conduct to their prisoners.
Even when they are rewarding them with gifts, they are giving them Red Cross parcels that rightfully belong to them anyway. There are many examples of extreme violence and senseless cruelty towards prisoners that may put many potential viewers off. Making men dig graves then shooting them into the graves they have just dug for themselves (at the very start of the film!).
Almost beating a man unconscious for not bowing to a guard even though no camp rules have been explained to them as new prisoners. Beating a man until he is crippled with a shovel for theft even though it is discovered no theft occurred, it was a simple mis-count.
Crucifying a man is the worst example of this cruelty. This film is difficult to watch at times but deserves to be much better known about. Watch it and pray no war ever happens like this again.
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