Paradise Road

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Summary: Microcosm of Japanese Actions Across WW II Asia
Review: A fascinating, moving film of European civilian women interned in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, *Paradise Road* tells a tale of courage and fortitude amidst the incredible barbarism of the war-period Japanese army. Kate Blanchett's character is especially moving. The film (and book) deal in microcosm with Japanese actions across Asia towards civilians - and not just Europeans of course (tragic as that was), but Asians, too. When I lived in Hong Kong and Singapore in the 90s, memories among locals were still very strong about Japanese behaviour - which across Asia resulted in the deaths of twenty million Asians: in Hong Kong Chinese villagers in the remoter New Territories at times still attacked Japanese tourist coach parties, while in Stanley, HK, I lived a few yards from the notorious site of the Stanley internment camp, where the Japanese brutally treated civilians, and had earlier, a few steps away at a nearby Stanley prep school, raped and bayonnetted the British nurses manning a make-shift hospital during the Battle of of Hong Kong. Camps for European civilian women existed across Asia, not just in "two" spots, as another reviewer suggests (these are simply all that are mentioned in the film) - in Sumatra, Java, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Borneo, etc, while the same reviwer's wondering if the Japanese raped anybody is simply lack of knowledge. Some fine books to read on the subject, as moving as *Paradise Road*, include Lavinia Warner's *Women Beyond the Wire*, Jean Gittins' *Stanley: Behind Barbed Wire* and George Wright-Nooth's *Prisoner of the Turnip Heads* ("Turnip Heads" is what the Cantonese of Hong Kong call the Japanese) - some are printed in Britain and available through Amazon's UK site. The film *Empire of the Sun* gives the view of a 12-year-old boy in a Japanese camp in China. The Lavinia Warner book gives a lot of details of Japanese war-time barbarism towards women in Singapore, Bangka island (an infamous massacre of twenty-odd Australian nurses) and the horrors of camps in Sumatra. Also, Dieuwke Wendelaar Bonga's *Eight Prison Camps* gives accounts of Dutch women imprisoned on Java, while Ernest Hillen's *The Way of a Boy* gives a view of Java internment camps and their horrors from the perspective of a young Dutch boy. The West may have enough to deal with remembering the atrocities of the Nazis in Europe, but really we have only ourselves to blame if we forget the other terrible atrocities commited in the Pacific by the Japanese. An investigation of the subject makes fascinating and moving reading, and a good place to start is *Paradise Road*.

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Summary: The power of music
Review: Brutal wartime conditions, a true story of inhumanity to women and how they[at least the few who survived] triumphed by the inspiring artistry of music.
If you doubt the truth of the horrible conditions to which allied civilian were exposed in the Pacific in the war, read Nigel Dawson's "Prisoners of the Japanese". The military camp commander and his subordinates are about as evil as one can imagine; it remains a mystery that much of Japanese society has yet to come to terms with these horrors.

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Summary: This is a wonderful story of extraordinary women!
Review: Cate Blanchett is unforgettable, playing a young, ineffectual nurse who blooms under horrible life-threatening circumstances. One scene, with her character literally fighting for her life in a horrifying struggle, will stay with you for a long time. I HIGHLY recommend this movie!

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Summary: A realistic portrayal of WW II on par with Schindler's List!
Review: Having heard about WW II from my father who fought in the South Pacific, I recognized much of the memorabilia used in this film as authentic. I was once again moved and awed by the ability of the human spirit to prevail under such daunting, adverse circumstances. We do well to preserve such depictions of history for future generations to know the truth of the horrors that humans have wrought on one another. I was and am still deeply moved by this movie and am very glad this story came to light through the tremendous acting ability of such wonderful women.

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Summary: Paradise road - truly moving
Review: I have seen many movies about the hardships endured by prisoners in camps during World War II, but this particular film truly moved me. It was so inspiring to see how these women, living in such horrible circumstances, could still find the time and the courage to lift their voices in song. I have seen the movie several times and am anxious to purchase a copy so that I can share it with friends and family. There is also a book which relates the true story of these women and their remarkable achievement. A true portrayal of how the human spirit can endure and soar!

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Summary: Great Movie!!!!
Review: I just rented this movie and it was great. All the actors and actresses do a great job. I rented it because my favorite actress (Julianna Margulies) who played Topsy Merrit. She did a magnificent job. Ecspecialy when she started to cry when she decied to stay with the others.

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Summary: Very Well Done
Review: I really enjoy the talents of Glenn Close and this movie is no exception to a performance well done. The story itself deals with some pretty heavy stuff, but it was very well done and the subject matter was presented in a very realistic manner. I enjoyed this movie very much.

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Summary: reaching for and the attainment off inner strength within us
Review: I saw this video and my emotions overtook me , my mom and my 2 older brothers where in the camps in Sumatra.The acting is first rate, and the characters misery and emotions just flow out of the screen . It bares the human soul, from the cruelty of one Japanese officer to the compassion of onother. A must see for those seeking to blame their problems on everyone and everything else. See REAL suffering and realize how fortunate we all are.

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Summary: If your daughter is to be a lady - she must see it.
Review: It will be my daughter's "must see movie"

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Summary: Understanding the Pain
Review: My mother was in a similar prison camp, therefor I it was important to me to see this movie. She had told me many stories of her time in the camps. When I saw this movie it was the first time that I could visually see and really understand her pain and the torture she endured. I feel it is important for the world to understand this side of the war. Very view people are aware of it. Glenn Close does a wonderful job getting this story across.