Impressive

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2011)

In 1941, seven assorted inmates of a Siberian prison camp escape, pick up a teenage girl on the way, and walk 4,000 miles to freedom in India (well, some of them).
This true life story is a straightforward piece of work, and stands primarily on the drama inherent in the journey and the hardships suffered by the escapees. As well as its strength this is also its weakness, because it never really draws all members of the fellowship as strongly as they deserve to be drawn.
One is left with memories of Ed Harris as the pessimistic American and Saoirse Ronan as orphan Irena as the dominant personalities. Colin Farrell is Colin Farrell, and Mark Strong makes a short appearance. As for the others - by the time you have sorted out who is who, and they have individually started to make impressions, the movie is over.
But it is a gripping movie where you are constantly amazed at how inhospitable this planet can be, and how resilient people can be in challenging the worst life can throw at them.
And this film, too, contains one of those magic moments to treasure - a masterclass in dialogue-free acting from Harris, lasting no more than a few seconds, after Ronan has washed his damaged foot.