The Railway Man (15)

Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky

3 Stars

Based on Eric Lomax's astonishing memoir about his harrowing ordeal as a prisoner of war at the hands of the Japanese, The Railway Man is an extraordinary tale of reconciliation and forgiveness that is hard to comprehend.

Lomax, a passionate train enthusiast, was ironically forced to work on the notorious Thai-Burma "death railway" during the second world war, where he was tortured mercilessly by his captors.

Decades later, with the help of his remarkable wife Patti (Nicole Kidman), Lomax faced his demons by seeking out and confronting the officer who presided over his interrogation and torture.

Colin Firth gives a heart-breaking performance as the psychologically scarred older Lomax while Jeremy Irvine delivers a very powerful portrayal as his younger self in flashbacks.

Unfortunately it feels like you are watching two separate films in one - Brief Encounter meets The Bridge On The River Kwai.

The first is sweet and touching while the second is brutal and painfully violent and they don't quite gel together.

Despite its horrifying brutality this is a gripping tale about love, redemption, survival and an incredible man who overcame his demons.

Maria Duarte