Unbroken

Unbroken

Starring Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Takamasa Ishihara

Directed by Angelina Jolie

Synopsis:
Louis Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) was a troubled kid who kept getting into trouble, until his brother found an outlet for his activity - track.  Louis became the fastest runner in the country, and went to the Olympics.

After the Olympics he enlisted in the army to fight in World War II, and on a rescue mission his plane goes down in the ocean, and only he, his friend Phil (Domhnall Gleeson) and another soldier survived.  They were adrift in the water for an astonishing 47 days facing sharks, heat and lack of food and water until they were discovered by the Japanese and put into a prisoner camp.

Under the sadistic direction of Watanabe (Takamusa Ishihara), Louis was particularly singled out for ritual beatings due to his popular stature, and as Watanabe wanted to break him, Louis took each trial and grew stronger, and instead of seeking vengeance, Louis eventually showed forgiveness.

Review:
The true life story of Louis Zamperini is downright superhuman.  We see superhero movies and look up to celebrities as if they're some sort of higher being, but Louis shows that true heroism can be found in the most average person.  To be able to survive adrift for 47 days is itself a rare feat that not many people would be able to do, yet alone then spend the next few years in enemy territory facing constant beatings and ridicule at the hands of unrepentant Japanese soldiers.

Yet not only did he survive, he thrived.  He showed true guts and glory in the face of sheer hopelessness and despair, and refused to let it break him.  His story is one for the ages, someone we should all admire and adhere to as a pillar of humanity.

The back-and-forth between Louis and Watanabe is a deep character study on two totally different people.  Louis came from humble beginnings and worked hard to get to where he was, while Watanabe was raised in privilege, and yet he couldn't achieve his own dreams, so he particularly targeted Louis due to his jealousy.

When Louis first arrived at the camp, Watanabe taunted him and told him to "not look" at him, in a very condescending tone, as if he was better than him.  In the end, after one of the most prolific and moving moments of the film, Watanabe once again told Louis to "not look" at him, but this time it was out of resentment and fear, knowing that Louis was better than him.  Truly an amazing moment in the film.

The life Louis had after his internment was something of miracles, as he decided to return to Japan to forgive those who held him captive, and even achieve a personal dream of his.  He truly was a giant among men, and Angelina Jolie showcased that in amazing ways.

Summary:
"Unbroken" shows that the human spirit is indeed stronger than we give it credit for, and the power of forgiveness is the strongest of all.

My Rating: A