04 May 2014
Film: "The Railway Man" We are all humans
The story based on autobiography of former British military personnel in charge of radio communication, Eric Lomax, who became POW of Imperial Japanese Army in occupied Singapore during the second world war.
Even after the war he suffered from trauma caused by his experience as POW in Thailand where he and his comrades were transported to. Later he found that the interpreter, Nagase in the Japanese army, whom he met at that period was still alive in Thailand and decided to return there.
It was really shocking to see the film and know the facts. British soldiers were used as labour for construction of the railway and tortured by the Japanese army.
The film, itself was well-done however, reaction from Japanese audience seemed not so positive maybe because of portrayal of Japanese army in the film. It was indeed British perspective.
I was impressed by some words in the film.
"Japanese soldiers choose to die rather than being humiliated alive but Britons live to fight. "
"I have lived for this day. If the war did not end, end this (with your sword)."
Those were paraphrasing of what Nagase said when he re-encounter with Lomax and told him how guilty he had felt for what he did.
In the end, both men reconciled and kept good friendship until they both died recently.
We are all humans. We make mistakes. We hate each other but can understand each other. We hurt each other but can help each other.
We can learn from past mistakes and improve ourselves for better future and our decendants.
I think, that's the message from the two men.