Forgotten Saoirse Ronan war drama that 'will just blow your mind' now streaming

The drama is said to be one of the greatest World War Two films

View 3 Images

An 'exceptional' war film featuring a lesser-known role by Saoirse Ronan is currently streaming.

The Way Back, which hit the screens in 2010, stars the Little Women actress alongside Hollywood bigwigs Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, and Ed Harris. Prime Video subscribers can currently stream the film at no additional cost.

Set in the year 1939, this gripping drama tells the tale of a group of gulag prisoners who break free from a Siberian labour camp and embark on a perilous journey spanning thousands of miles to reach freedom.

The plot draws inspiration from The Long Walk, a 1956 memoir penned by Polish prisoner of war Sławomir Rawicz, who claimed to have escaped a Soviet gulag during the Second World War, reports the Mirror.

View 3 Images

However, the authenticity of Rawicz's inspiring account has been a subject of much debate. Despite his claims of undertaking this arduous 4,000-mile escape, historical evidence suggests that he might not have embarked on the journey at all.

Regardless of these controversies, renowned Australian director Peter Weir was captivated by the story's spirit and decided to bring it to life on the silver screen.

In the film, Ronan portrays Irena, a young refugee who crosses paths with escapees Janusz Wieszczek (Sturgess), Mr Smith (Harris), and Valka (Farrell) during their quest for freedom.

Upon its release, The Way Back received widespread praise from critics, earning a commendable 73 per cent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics lauded the period drama, with their consensus stating: "This Peter Weir epic offers sweeping ambition and strong performances to go with its grand visual spectacle."

View 3 Images

Film buffs and casual viewers alike have been singing the praises of a certain drama, with one enthusiast taking to Google Reviews to declare: "It's a masterpiece and it's a pity that this movie is so underrated."

They continued: "From actors to the dialogues, lights, camera-angle, background music, scripting, screenplay, art direction of sets, cinematography, everything will just blow your mind."

Another admirer hailed the film as "one of the greatest movies of WW2". A third said: "[It is a] tough to watch but an incredible story!"

Other spectators were quick to laud the film, with remarks like "acting was outstanding and so was the story," while another praised its "raw" narrative.

On IMDb, a succinct review simply reads: "Grim but beautiful."

The Way Back is streaming now on Prime Video.