First I saw the movie poster, and it sucked me in instantly. Colin's dirty smartass face and Ed Harris' penetrating look, both tired and weary. The next thing I saw was that it was inspired by true events. Then, finally, I saw Peter Weir's name. That pretty much concluded the deal.
It tells a story of about half a dozen men escaping their seemingly inevitable fate after being sentenced to labour in a Siberian gulag. This determined and desperate group came up with a plan to take their escape south, to Mongolia, where they can hide from the communist regime that convicted them in the first place. Little did they know, by this time, Mongolia was in a partnership with the Soviet Union. The only remaining option was to keep heading south, over the ruthless Gobi desert and into India, via the Himalayas.
With little or no food at all, severely dehydrated, they pressed on. Through both dark and merry thoughts, wounds and blisters - they managed to keep their resolve. The hike was approximately 6500 kilometers or 4000 miles long, which they bravely endured for a couple of months.
The acting was superb. Jim Sturgess, a young survivalist craving freedom and life; Colin Farrell, a hardened Russian criminal and an incurable patriot; Ed Harris, an American operative caught behind enemy lines; and many more. Everyone slipped into their roles like it was written especially for them.
It's good to see Peter Weir back, he rarely disappoints. Having in mind the strength and struggles endured behind this story, I'd give it 8 out of 10.
