“War leaves a mark” is the overwhelming message of The Railway Man. Yet its subject doesn’t so much bear a scar as he does a festering psychological wound, which is pustulating into his civilian life and marriage.

Firth and Irvine are both brilliant as the acorn and oak versions of Eric Lomax, but the film’s rush to present a symbol of peace tramples over its important examination of post traumatic stress disorder. Too much ricocheting through time fragments its emotional impact.

The Railway Man remains a moving film, with strong performances, but its intentions are perhaps better than its delivery.

A mostly good film, which is carried by two amazing performances from Firth and Irvine. Its back-and-forth nature, however, does diminish what is an emotionally electric true story.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Irvine, Stellan Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada

DIRECTOR: Jonathan Teplitzky

WRITERS: Frank Cottrell Boyce, Andy Paterson, Eric Lomax

SYNOPSIS: The true story of a British WWII Prisoner of War forced to work on the ‘Death Railway’, and his quest to find those who tortured him.