Watch Paradise Road

Paradise Road is a powerful drama movie set during World War II, which tells the inspiring story of a group of women from different nationalities who are brought together in a Japanese internment camp in Sumatra. The film, directed by Bruce Beresford, stars an outstanding cast, including Glenn Close, Frances McDormand, Pauline Collins, Cate Blanchett, and Julianna Margulies, among others.

The movie opens with a scene in which the women are being transported by boat to the internment camp after the Japanese invade Singapore in 1942. Among the group, we meet Adrienne Pargiter (played by Glenn Close), an Australian woman who is a talented musician and leads the choir, Margaret Drummond (Frances McDormand), an American nurse who becomes the camp's chief medical officer, and Daisy 'Margaret' White (Pauline Collins), a British missionary who is determined to keep the women's spirits up and morale high.

The conditions in the camp are harsh and challenging, especially for the women who come from privileged backgrounds and are used to a life of comfort. They are forced to live in crowded and unsanitary quarters, with little food and no medical supplies. However, despite their difficult circumstances, the women manage to come together and support each other, forming strong bonds of friendship and sisterhood.

The heart of the movie lies in the women's resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. They find ways to keep themselves busy and distracted, whether it's by organizing a gardening club or putting on a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado'. And when tragedy strikes, they band together to help each other through their grief.

Throughout the film, we see the women's relationships develop and evolve as they learn to understand and respect each other's cultures and backgrounds. We witness moments of tension and conflict, but also moments of compassion and kindness, as they learn to rely on each other and work as a team.

One of the most moving aspects of Paradise Road is its portrayal of the women's desperate desire for normalcy and beauty in the midst of chaos and destruction. They cling to their love of music, literature, and art, as a way of keeping their humanity in the face of cruelty and violence.

The performances of the cast are exceptional, with Glenn Close and Frances McDormand delivering powerful performances that anchor the film. Their characters are complex and multifaceted, and the actors bring a sense of depth and nuance that allows the audience to fully connect with their struggles and triumphs.

Overall, Paradise Road is a captivating and emotionally resonant movie that celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. It is a tribute to the power of connection and compassion, and a reminder of the resilience and strength we can find within ourselves when faced with the darkest of circumstances.

Paradise Road is a 1997 war movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 48.