The film feels rushed and attempts to focus on too many characters, to the point where hardly any are represented- I'd have liked to have seen it slow down- it approaches cinema in a way more pertinent to the dreaded TV-movie. & it wastes such stellar talents as the gorgeous Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Frances McDormand & Pauline Collins. Though the lackings of an actor like then in vogue ER-star Julianna Margulies are more than apparent...

Don't get me wrong, this story is fascinating and there really ought to be a representation of female experience during WWII- despite the similarities to Tenko, females and WWII/Japan have hardly been represented in contrast to the multiple male-centred films on the same theme. Perhaps this would have been more interesting written and directed by a female??????

The film feels like a bunch of stock characters and stock situations, efficiently ticked as they are given- the film starts off well, with the Fall of Singapore, but drifts into incomprehension as we focus on a few characters after their ship is sunk (the others are forgotten about till later- dodgy editing or lack of budget?). Things just happen- the dialogue is mostly dire, predicatble and stilted & there are too many characters to have a definite sense of chemistry. The cinematography is fine, the torture of Blanchett's character tied to bamboo or the smuggler girl set on fire are potent scenes that showcase the Japanese barbarity...

But it all feels too stock- the characters who give up & die, the dog, the relationship with the Japanese guards- which develops into grudging admiration etc. There's a potentially great story for a film- after all, this is a true story- just tweaked for entertainment purposes. I'd have liked to have seen scenes from the future- the survivors as old women- or flashbacks to the past, that might explain why a character like Ehle's loved so much that she eventually gave up & died...

Paradise Road is solid entertainment, if that's your bag of hammers, but no different to the masses of simplistic films that surfaced in the years after World War II. I'd recommend Spielberg's flawed adaptation of Empire of the Sun, which has stunning cinematography and potent performances from John Malkovich & Miranda Richardson. The most potent films of Japan/WWII remain for me Kon Ichikawa's The Burmese Harp and Fires of the Plain- the kind of film Paradise Road should have aspired to be...

A moving tribute
Review date: 2004-01-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

Not many films dare to show the true horrors endured by western woman in the prisoner of war camps in Japan,this one does. Without shying away from the arrognace and defiance shown by the western woman suffering at the hands of their captures,Paradise road is uplifting and moving.A beatiful shot film with stunning locations accompanied by an five star cast, including Glenn Close,Pauline Collins, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Ehle as the stereo-typical English Rose who loses all hope, and the will to survive in the extreme conditions of a POW camp.Frances McDormand gives an Oscar worthy portrayal of a very convincing but mistaken and resourceful Doctor.Especially moving is the contribution made by the surviving prisoners to the film's musical score.Truly an underated masterpiece that was never promoted to it's full potential,which shows that no matter how unbearable and terrifying life can be the human instinct to survive wins through everytime.

Disappointing to find scenes were cut
Review date: 2003-11-13 Rating: 6 out of 10

I loved Paradise Road when I saw it on the big screen, but was incredibly disappointed to find that key scenes had been cut for the video. Scenes such as the funeral of Pauline Collins' character, where the mourners beat out the tune of Chopin's funeral march with pepples in an act of defiance to the cruel Japanese guards. Also, a scene where Jennifer Ehle escapes to secretly meet her lover, then subsequently discovers that he is dead is vital to explain why this character suddenly gives up hope and dies. All in all, this is an excellent production, like a big screen Tenko, but which has been spoiled by atrocious editing.

Powerful movie
Review date: 2003-07-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

Some European women who were living peacefully in Singapore during the WWII, suddenly had to leave for Australia because Singapore was under attack. On their way, the ship was bombed and the survivors reached the North Sumatra's beach and were captured by Japanese soldiers who then took them to a camp. To rise their spirits, they formed a vocal orchestra.
Paradise Road is one of the most powerful movies I have seen and one of its messages is how influential a song can be.
With great actresses like: Glen Close, Frances McDormand, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Ehle, Pauline Collins, and Juliana Marguiles; this movie is a must for they who love music- especially women.
This is a movie about loss, hope, courage, humanity and togetherness.

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