The story of a troubled man. Following imprisonment and torture in World War II Eric Lomax is a traumatised man. Following his release and as it was common in that era, he tried to overcome it in silence bypassing it as it were. In the aftermath of his marriage, the struggle was ever present and he tried hard to drown it but a scarred soul always makes its marks visible.
Since the tactic of denial of the trauma did not work, he decides to confront the source of pain in the face and so he travels to Japan to meet his tormentor.
The encounter caused an emotional storm and although he was initially predisposed to avenge his torture with the passing of time he came to realise that revenge would not help him heal and healing gradually occurred through friendship with his captor.
Whilst it is an emotional experience with dark overtones, the makers opted for a rather flat experience that will provide the viewer with no ups or downs despite the fluctuations in the emotional state of the characters. Although the true story in which this movie is based has a lot of poignancy the film will captivate you in a rather limited way.
Since the tactic of denial of the trauma did not work, he decides to confront the source of pain in the face and so he travels to Japan to meet his tormentor.
The encounter caused an emotional storm and although he was initially predisposed to avenge his torture with the passing of time he came to realise that revenge would not help him heal and healing gradually occurred through friendship with his captor.
Whilst it is an emotional experience with dark overtones, the makers opted for a rather flat experience that will provide the viewer with no ups or downs despite the fluctuations in the emotional state of the characters. Although the true story in which this movie is based has a lot of poignancy the film will captivate you in a rather limited way.