The Way Back (2010) - new Peter Weir film

Peter Weir, the acclaimed Australian director known for hits like "Gallipoli", "The Year of Living Dangerously", "Witness", "The Mosquito Coast", and "Dead Poets Society", plus more recent stuff like "The Truman Show" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", is finally breaking his seven-year dry spell. He hasn't directed a single thing since "Master and Commander" back in 2003. Now he's back with a drama called "The Way Back," based on the true story of a group of POWs escaping a Siberian Gulag in 1940 and trekking all the way to India. Weir actually wrote the script himself, drawing from the memoirs of Sławomir Rawicz.
To pull this off, Weir rounded up some heavy hitters like Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Mark Strong, Jim Sturgess, and Gustaf Skarsgard—who is Stellan Skarsgard's kid.
They shot parts of it in Morocco, India, and Bulgaria. In the US, we're looking at a limited theatrical release on December 3, 2010, followed by an international rollout starting January 21, 2011.



IMDb

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A fact-based story centered on soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag in 1940.

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I am genuinely looking forward to this. Weir is one of my all-time favorite directors, and it honestly feels like a missed opportunity that he doesn't put out films more frequently. With Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, he proved that his ability to craft a masterpiece remains as sharp as ever.

ruggedridge22 said:I am honestly just counting down the days. I guess you could say Weir is one of my absolute favorite directors, and it really feels like a missed opportunity that he doesn't make movies more often. With Master and Commander, he proved he’s still at the very top of his game.

I am definitely joining the waiting club here. 🙂 Thanks so much, Anthony Smith3—seriously, for the last two months, I feel like I've been living on YouTube and IMDb just hunting for that trailer.
Peter Weir rules!

I've been watching this trailer on loop all day—what an absolute epic. Those desert scenes really remind me of the scale we saw in Gallipoli...

Has anyone managed to track down an HD version yet?

I am seriously, truly, deeply counting down the minutes until this drops... I can hardly sit still!!!!!

Excellent... I can hardly wait either!

Official poster...

New trailer out... in HBO quality... now you can actually see how massive this movie looks...

TRAILER 2

Plus a few new stills...

Anthony Smith3 said:The new trailer just dropped in HBO quality... you can finally see the massive scale this film is aiming for. It looks truly epic.

👍

There is absolutely no way he misses the mark with this one.🙂

Has this book ever been translated here in the States? Does anyone know?

Look, I’ll admit Christian Bale is pulling off some pretty incredible work lately—it's hard to deny that—but I am absolutely planning to catch the next Peter Weir film in theaters, and frankly, I can't wait.

My only real apprehension is whether it might veer too far into the sentimental territory we saw in Dead Poets Society; though, to be fair, Weir has a knack for filming those high-emotion moments without making them feel completely unbearable.

When you really sit back and think about it, almost every one of his films leans into that kind of pathos—but he manages to do it in a way that feels genuinely cool.😁

If it turns out to be even half as good as Gallipoli—which, by the way, is a personal favorite of mine—then we’re in for something special.

While we sit here waiting... just a little chat about Master and Commander:

The Way Back>, directed and co-written by Peter Weir:



Ultimate Spoiler:

For Your Consideration: Peter Weir's screenplay.

The Way Back (Peter Weir).pdf

That British poster...

Absolutely killer!!! 😁

Ed Harris used to be my absolute favorite actor, but I have to say, Christian Bale really made that role his own... all things considered, it’s easily one of the superior films out there. It’s the kind of movie that leaves you feeling genuinely fulfilled, which is a massive departure from those pieces of trash produced solely to chase a quick paycheck

It’s a solid watch based on a true story, and honestly, the acting from everyone involved is top-tier. If you’re into this kind of stuff, you’ll dig it. Just don't go in expecting some massive Hollywood action spectacle—you'll be disappointed. It’s a slower burn about people just trying to survive. To be real, it’s actually a bit tedious when you think about it. Walking halfway across the globe isn't exactly peak entertainment either. It's pure drama.👍

Christian Ramirez said:Ed Harris was always my favorite actor—but I feel like Christian Bale really undershot this role... overall though, it's one of those better movies. You know, the kind where you actually feel fulfilled after watching, unlike all that trash they churn out just to grab a quick paycheck...

I'm with you. He just doesn't fit the part of a menacing Russian. I don't know why they couldn't have just cast an actual Russian actor. That would've been cool. 😁

Grace Sanders24 said:Anyway, it's an interesting movie based on true events, and the acting from everyone involved is solid. Obviously, anyone who likes these kinds of films will be happy. If someone's looking for an action spectacle, they shouldn't bother. It's a bit of a slower film about people trying to survive. Actually, it's kind of boring if I think about it too much. Walking halfway around the world isn't exactly thrilling. It's a drama.👍

True events?? 😲

Every single second of that movie had me on edge. 😁

An absolute masterpiece. 🙏🙏🙏

Honestly? This one’s actually decent. A rare find, really—especially considering most of what’s being churned out lately is nothing but absolute garbage.