| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ciarán McMenamin | ... | Capt. Ernest 'Ernie' Gordon | |
| Robert Carlyle | ... | Maj. Ian Campbell | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | ... | Lt. Jim 'Yankee' Reardon | |
| Mark Strong | ... | Dusty Miller | |
| Yûgo Sasô | ... | Takashi Nagase | |
| Sakae Kimura | ... | Sgt. Ito | |
| James Cosmo | ... | Lt. Col. Stuart McLean | |
| Masayuki Yui | ... | Capt. Noguchi | |
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John Gregg | ... | Camp Doctor Coates |
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Shû Nakajima | ... | Nagatomo (as Shu Nakajima) |
| Greg Ellis | ... | Sgt. Roger Primrose | |
| Pip Torrens | ... | Lt. Foxworth | |
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James McCarthy | ... | Norman |
| Brendan Cowell | ... | Wallace Hamilton | |
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Winton Nicholson | ... | Duncan |
A true story about four Allied POWs who endure harsh treatment from their Japanese captors during World War II while being forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle. Ultimately they find true freedom by forgiving their enemies. Based on the true story of Ernest Gordon. Written by Anonymous
In a Japanese POW camp, a Scottish band of soldiers learns about a very different culture - the hard way. They also learn from the more refined and educated among them the meaning of serving each other and their enemies, to the point of self-sacrifice.
The film begins rather slowly (and overly-sentimental) but becomes an incredible story with great acting and characters, powerful philosophy and imagery. Many gripping moments of self-realization, facing reality and appreciation for life and death. The depth of relationships, self-sacrifice and lessons learned leaves the audience with a lot to process. Overall, very inspiring and well-made.