My take on the film

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2004)

I was amazed, encaptured and enthralled when I saw this film for the first time. I was flicking idly through the television one night when I caught the opening titles just as I was about to go to bed, and thought I'd give it a try. What can I say? 3 hours later I was almost in tears over the ending, but I'll say no more.
It's obvious the film has overwhelming themes of hope, friendship, redemption ad freedom, but it is the hope that so suffuses the film and lifts it above other "triumphing over adversity" films. It is a film that does not try to justify any governmental or judicial system, or the skill of a lawyer, but simply the hope and compassion that is part of the tarnished human spirit.
I bought this film on DVD recently, replacing my rather elderly tape, and it cost me the grand total of £3 (about $5 or so) and, pound for pound, it's the best value for money I've ever spent on anything. If only all DVD's were this good and this cheap.