A Must-See Film for Anyone Remotely Interested in Camps

Rating: 10/10 (23 March 2018)

"The Way Back" realistically portrays the somewhat subtle, yet incredibly important aspects of living in the camp system, how it affects those within the physical and mental space, and how the camp can act as a form of social molding. In the beginning of the film, we see the main men of the movie in a Gulag in Siberia that is in many ways historically accurate, leaving very few stones unturned. We get a peek at the camp hierarchy, where convicted criminals run the camp and have more power than political prisoners in the Gulag. This is illustrated when Valka, a criminal, stabs a man when he won't give Valka his sweater. Naturally, there's no consequence to Valka as he has his own blade and is allowed to use it at will. We also see that there is a differentiation between death of the body and death of the spirit. Janusz, a newcomer to the Gulag, has a spirit that others try to pray on. This is due to the fact that the camp system leads to physical deterioration, but also is dehumanizing, which can ultimately be key in whether or not someone has the motivation to survive. His mental strength is an asset that the camp system tries to break. We also see the manual labor aspect of the Gulag and how the labor could be dangerous, especially when working certain jobs like the mine. The cigarette currency was also given its own scene in the movie, illustrating how the camp can act as a microcosm for society. The emphasis on the fact that the camp extends beyond the physical structure was also a key aspect of the camp system that other films sometimes fail to recognize. It took the escapees multiple years to finally get to "freedom" in India, but the effects of starvation and paranoia from everyone was clear. The camp also had harmful effects on people who never even stepped foot in the camps themselves. Janusz's wife, who ended up testifying against him to the communist party to save her life shows how the camp acted as a form of warning for society, reminding everyone to stay within their boundaries and to not disobey the party, or else.
The best part of the film may have been the humanizing of all of the characters. We see that camp guards are human, especially when during the snowstorm, a guard threatens to shoot the American man, but ultimately stands down. We also see Valka, the criminal, who isn't "evil", but just a man trying to survive in the conditions he was brought up in. We see that Irena, the female traveler lies, and that Mr. Smith's actions led to his son's death. No one is purely good or evil.
Overall, the movie has a refreshingly realistic portrayal of camps that we rarely see in other "concentration camp" films. Its subtle nuances are accurate, the story it portrays could have actually occurred.