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Paradise Road

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Glenn Close in Paradise Road (1997)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
26 Photos
  • Drama
  • History
  • War

A group of women who are imprisoned on the island of Sumatra by the Japanese during World War II use music to relieve their misery.A group of women who are imprisoned on the island of Sumatra by the Japanese during World War II use music to relieve their misery.A group of women who are imprisoned on the island of Sumatra by the Japanese during World War II use music to relieve their misery.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bruce Beresford
  • Writers
    • David Giles(story)
    • Martin Meader(story)
    • Bruce Beresford
  • Stars
    • Glenn Close
    • Frances McDormand
    • Pauline Collins
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bruce Beresford
  • Writers
    • David Giles(story)
    • Martin Meader(story)
    • Bruce Beresford
  • Stars
    • Glenn Close
    • Frances McDormand
    • Pauline Collins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 7 nominations

    Videos1

    Paradise Road
    Trailer 2:30
    Paradise Road

    Photos26

    Johanna ter Steege at the premiere of Paradise Road, with Glenn Close
    Glenn Close and Bruce Beresford in Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close in Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close in Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close in Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close in Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close in Paradise Road (1997)
    Cate Blanchett in Paradise Road (1997)
    Cate Blanchett in Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close and Cate Blanchett in Paradise Road (1997)
    Paradise Road (1997)
    Glenn Close and Pauline Collins in Paradise Road (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Glenn Close
    Glenn Close
    • Adrienne Pargiteras Adrienne Pargiter
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • Dr. Verstakas Dr. Verstak
    Pauline Collins
    Pauline Collins
    • Margaret Drummondas Margaret Drummond
    Cate Blanchett
    Cate Blanchett
    • Susan Macarthyas Susan Macarthy
    Jennifer Ehle
    Jennifer Ehle
    • Rosemary Leighton-Jonesas Rosemary Leighton-Jones
    Julianna Margulies
    Julianna Margulies
    • Topsy Merrittas Topsy Merritt
    Wendy Hughes
    Wendy Hughes
    • Mrs. Dicksonas Mrs. Dickson
    Johanna ter Steege
    Johanna ter Steege
    • Sister Wilhelminiaas Sister Wilhelminia
    • (as Johanna Ter Steege)
    Elizabeth Spriggs
    Elizabeth Spriggs
    • Mrs. Robertsas Mrs. Roberts
    Pamela Rabe
    Pamela Rabe
    • Mrs. Tippleras Mrs. Tippler
    Clyde Kusatsu
    Clyde Kusatsu
    • The Snakeas The Snake
    Stan Egi
    Stan Egi
    • Captain Tanakaas Captain Tanaka
    David Chung
    David Chung
    • The Interpreteras The Interpreter
    Sab Shimono
    Sab Shimono
    • Colonel Hirotaas Colonel Hirota
    Penne Hackforth-Jones
    • Mrs. Pikeas Mrs. Pike
    Pauline Chan
    Pauline Chan
    • Wingas Wing
    Lisa Hensley
    • Ednaas Edna
    Susie Porter
    Susie Porter
    • Oggias Oggi
    • Director
      • Bruce Beresford
    • Writers
      • David Giles(story)
      • Martin Meader(story)
      • Bruce Beresford
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The group of women from different countries and social levels are prisoners in a Japanese POW camp, where one of them, Adrienne, who is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, organizes a vocal band in spite of their guards resistance. —Anonymous
    • timeframe 1930s
    • timeframe 1940s
    • female frontal nudity
    • female rear nudity
    • tied up
    • 40 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
      • War
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for prisoner of war brutality and violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The music in the film was derived from the actual score transcripts used in the P.O.W camps which survived World War II.
    • Goofs
      The women of the choir did the singing while sitting down because of having to work in the extreme heat during the day left them exhausted.
    • Quotes

      Adrienne Pargiter: You don't hate them do you?

      Margaret Drummond: No.

      Adrienne Pargiter: Why not?

      Margaret Drummond: I've tried, but I can't bring myself to hate people. The worse they behave, the sorrier I feel for them.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Saint/Inventing the Abbotts/Double Team/That Old Feeling/Chasing Amy (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Largo
      from "New World Symphony"

      Written by Antonín Dvorák (as Antonin Dvorak)

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    Moving film
    I found this a very moving film about a group of fairly ordinary people placed in extraordinary conditions. I found myself quite involved with all the acting and the story line. Here is a film filled with outstanding and understated performances about people's ideals and courage being tested.

    As to this story having been told in 2 or 3 other movies, I find that to be an incredible comment. I didn't see anyone saying that there had already been about 100 movies about men fighting in World War II when "Saving Private Ryan" came out. It is time that the stories of these extraordinary women be told. Soldiers aren't the only ones to suffer and die in wars.
    helpful•9
    2
    • KMoran55
    • Jan 16, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 11, 1997 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Dutch
      • Malay
    • Also known as
      • 火線浮生錄
    • Filming locations
      • Penang, Malaysia
    • Production companies
      • Samson Productions Pty. Ltd.
      • Planet Pictures
      • YTC Motion Picture Investments
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $16,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,007,100
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $62,518
      • Apr 13, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,007,100
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    Cate Blanchett’s Acting Success Predicted with First Film Role in ‘Parklands’
    Mar 13Variety Film + TV
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    Netflix Sets English-Language Voice Cast for Animated Film ‘The Summit of the Gods’
    Nov 23Variety Film + TV

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