Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."Nature is your jailer and she has no mercy," says a guard at the gulag in which Polish prisoner Janusz (Jim Sturgess) has been imprisoned.
This prefaces the escape of six inmates in 1941, including US engineer Smith (Ed Harris) and Russian gangster Valka (a decent Colin Farrell), as they head for waters less Communist. It's a brutal journey: they head for India, survive Siberia then hit the Gobi desert and the Himalayas. Based on Slavomir Rawicz's disputed memoir, it's an at-times captivating tale – you can almost feel your mouth dry up as they battle dehydration in the Gobi – but it lacks emotional sweep, especially the damp squib of an ending.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments