After a day doing the usual Saturday things, I settled down to watch To End All Wars on DVD with some of the usual suspects.

Based on a true story, it is set in one of the Japanese POW camps during the Second World War which were used to build the railway through Burma to support the invasion of British India. The film draws on some of the most influential ideas in Western thought, drawing on Classical philosophy, the bible and Shakespeare. It contrasts these with the Japanese philosophy and the codes of Bushido and the Samurai. At the very thick of this clash of philosophies are the men at the camp, both Allied POWs and their Japanese captors, who approach their situation in many different ways. It becomes evident that each of the men have their own mix of philosophies within them, and as well as the external struggle, there is the internal struggle going on in the hearts of these men.

The film itself is superbly made, with a strong set of characters, portrayed by very capable actors. It is possible to see the interaction of characters merely through their posture and eye contact. It also doesn’t attempt to hide the strong influence of Christian belief which influenced these men greatly.

Well worth watching. May we never forget the sacrifices which have been made for us.