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Glenn Close, Pauline Collins, Cate Blanchett, Frances McDormand, Julianna Margulies ... see more see more... , Elizabeth Spriggs , Jennifer Ehle , Wendy Hughes , Tessa Humphries , Sab Shimono , Susie Porter

Based on the testimony of survivors, this historical drama recounts the WWII heroism of female prisoners of war. (Glenn Close) stars as Adrienne Partiger, a society doyenne who flees Singapore with ot... read more read more...her expatriate women, mostly the wives of servicemen, when Japanese forces invade in 1942. When their gunboat is sunk in an air attack, the survivors wash ashore on Japanese-held Sumatra. The women are interned in a grim POW camp where punishments for even minor infractions are extreme. With the help of a missionary (Pauline Collins), Partiger corrals the women, including a tough American (Julianna Margulies), an Australian nurse (Cate Blanchett) and a young wife (Jennifer Ehle) into a musical group. Since singing is not allowed, the a cappella chorus dubs itself "a vocal orchestra" and is tolerated -- if barely -- by their Japanese captors. Though living conditions are squalid, food is scarce, and a thin sliver of soap inspires a shower brawl, the music keeps spirits uplifted and a Jewish-German doctor (Frances McDormand) provides some medical aid. Writer-director Bruce Beresford interviewed real-life participants in similar POW musical groups. Some provided, from memory, sheet music of the pieces they performed, which were used in the film. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

74% liked it

4,427 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

21 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Bruce Beresford

Release Date: April 11, 1997

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DVD Release Date: March 13, 2001

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Stats: 173 reviews

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Paradise Road FILM 'PARADISE ROAD' BY BRUCE BERESFORD
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Flixster Reviews (173)

  • ScoopOnline
    December 8, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    OUTSTANDING!
  • bbcfloridabound
    April 3, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    How can you give this film anything but 5 Stars. If there is one thing I enjoy about any movie, is the fact that I learned something from it. It is ashamed that it takes 50 years to learn the secrets of a War. There seems to be more and more movies coming out that tell us of thes... read moree hidden secrets. This is based on a true story. I had no idea that women were held prisoner of war during World War II. All the actors were outstanding. The Human Vocal band was out of this world. And as many captives will tell you, you must band together and work on something to keep your mind from whets really happening. This is a must see and a must add to the collection. 5 stars.
  • deano
    October 11, 2006
    deano
    Incredible true story of a group of Australian, British and Dutch women who were held captive and herded into a brutal prisoner of war camp by Japanese in 1942 and couraged themselves to survive forever.
  • fb1144932598
    April 1, 2011
    fb1144932598
    An excellent recounting of the horror of surviving a Japanese prisoner of war camp during WWII, that put this viewer in mind of "Playing For Time". Glenn Close plays Adrienne Pargiter, the wife of a British diplomat, who becomes the de facto leader of the women incarcerated on Su... read morematra. Joining her is a marvelous cast, including Frances McDormand (Dr Verstak), Cate Blanchett (Susan McCarthy), Julianna Marguiles (Topsy Merritt), and Pauline Collins (Margaret Drummond). Together, they face the brutality of their captors with dignity and courage and manage to put together a vocal orchestra and present classical music with only their voices. When they begin to sing, I defy the viewing audience to remain dry-eyed! A testament to the strength of the human spirit under the harshest conditions imaginable.
  • robfearon
    April 19, 2009
    robfearon
    At times, the grueling pageant of torture and abuse became a bit much for me. Still, Paradise Road is a triumphant celebration of the human spirit in the face of suffering.
  • mikeylovesgregg
    June 1, 2008
    mikeylovesgregg
    Lackluster. Some genuine moments don't make up for the rest of the unfocused, underdeveloped story...
  • zappasgal
    April 20, 2007
    zappasgal
    Uses Ravel's "Bolero" as a unifying force to help keep women in a prison camp motivated to fight and live.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
June 21, 2007
Emanuel Levy, Variety

A large cast of gifted actress, including Glenn Close and Frances McDormand, is largely wasted in Beresford's honroable but failed effort to pay tribute to a group of disparate women held captive by t... Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

Even with its grueling pageant of torture and abuse at the hands of monstrously inhuman Japanese officers, Road never reaches the heart.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 26, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A triumphant celebration of the human spirit in the face of suffering. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

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Peter Travers
May 11, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

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Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Click to read the article Full Review

January 1, 2000
Houston Chronicle

No review available.

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Paradise Road Trivia

  • Which actress, who also played a character known for her penchant for dog fur starred in the 1997 film Paradise Road?  Answer »
  • Who played the role of the doctor in Paradise Road?  Answer »
  • Which of the following actresses did not appear in Paradise Road?  Answer »
  • Cate Blanchette is in the film 'Paradise Road'.  Answer »
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