Xlyfindel

As a product of the United State's public school system, my knowledge of Australian history is abysmal. I had never heard of the people, places, and war crimes covered by this movie and was very skeptical throughout. However I was quickly enthralled, the few survivors being interviewed and the excellent retelling of the experiences they survived was really eye-opening. I couldn't stop watching and was blown away by the thoroughness of the endeavor. Not only did they interview the Australian survivors and their families, but also some of the Japanese and Axis soldiers and their families as well. I was in disbelief. The wounds of war obviously run very deep and even though this movie is already more than a decade old there is still no definitive end in sight for the lingering animosity. I don't know how well this film did or how it was published or broadcast, but I'm really glad that I finally did see it and hope that many others see it also.

I had no idea what I was getting into with this movie. Throughout the whole film I kept getting the feeling that it was really trying hard to make the good guy look cool. To make doing the right thing seem like the right thing to do. I really like that. The bad guys weren't overly glorified or vilified either. I don't think they went too far, and it doesn't smack of the in your face over the top cheese-fest that other movies dealing with the subject usually have. I know the story well from made-for-TV movies though never was it so professionally shot or well acted.

There are only a few gripes i have about the movie, and they are personal irks that I can understand probably were taken into consideration and decided against by the creators.

1,) I really wish they had used the word RAPE at any point in the film. Everything else was so honest and boldfaced that it seems a shame to try and sugar coat it with euphemisms and allusions. 2,) The end seems really rushed and cut short. There are a lot of questions left unanswered, but I believe it is because they needed to get their message out after the climax instead of a concise denouement. 3,) They could have done a better job with working in the daughter and her relationship and importance to James. As it is it seems a bit contrived and little fake.

None of those are great detriments, and the message is important too. The movie was legitimately entertaining and kept my attention from very early on. I'm planning on watching it again with certain friends and recommending it as well. I'm glad I saw it.