‘The Railway Man’ Trailer: War Leaves a Heavy Mark on Colin Firth

TECHNOLOGY TELL
by Adrian Diaconescu on September 11, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Quick, what’s the last World War II-centric film that moved you? And I mean really moved you and drove you to tears, without necessarily trying too much and overdramatizing the tragic events of the early 1940s.

“The Reader”? “Letters from Iwo Jima”? “Saving Private Ryan”? “Schindler’s List”? Well, I think you’ll soon have to make room on that list of masterpieces for one more title – “The Railway Man”.

Overlooked by many for reasons that are beyond me in what’s shaping up to be an uber-competitive Oscars race, the drama debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews and now has a trailer.

And boy, is the 150-second clip emotional, tense and touching. Don’t want to jinx it, but I think Colin Firth can already book his presence at next year’s Academy Award gala. Maybe even prepare a little speech.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.technologytell.com/entertainment/26854/the-railway-man-trailer-war-leaves-a-heavy-mark-on-colin-firth/

I AM TORTURED BY THE SCREAMS OF POW ERIC LOMAX (EXPRESS CO.)

By David Paul

ERIC Lomax’s screams of pain as he was tortured still haunt those who were caged alongside him 70 years ago in a Japanese ­prisoner-of-war camp.


Tomorrow, in a small parish church, his family and friends will gather to pay their last respects to an extraordinary man who died aged 93, just months before his harrowing story is about to hit the nation’s cinema screens.

Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth is to star as Eric in The Railway Man.

Over the past year Colin has made two secret trips to Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland to get to know Eric, one of the most extraordinary characters to emerge from the Second World War. He endured ­barbaric treatment as one of thousands of Allied servicemen used as slave labour to build the Death Railway between ­Thailand and Burma.

Eric was among six men who were tortured for a week. Two were murdered and their bodies thrown into a latrine trench.

Eric had both arms broken and he was waterboarded.


READ MORE: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/351947/I-am-tortured-by-the-screams-of-PoW-Eric-Lomax

Colin Firth - The Railway Man Cast And Crew Mourn The Death Of Writer Eric Lomax 09 October 2012 (CONTACT MUSIC)

The war hero behind Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman's new movie The Railway Man has died, aged 93.

Eric Lomax's memoirs about working on the so-called 'death railway' in Thailand after he was captured by Japanese troops have been adapted into a new movie, starring the Oscar winners.

Lomax's book was published in 1995.  He died early on Monday (08Oct12).

Andy Paterson, the producer of the film adaptation of his book, tells the Bbc, "The cast and crew of The Railway Man are deeply saddened to hear of Eric Lomax's death. All our thoughts today are with his family.

"Whilst we are heartbroken that he will not be with us at the premiere, he lived long enough to see some early images from the film and to share our hopes that this new version of his story will help ensure that the men who suffered with him - and the families who had to cope with the legacy - would never be forgotten."

READ MORE: http://www.contactmusic.com/news/the-railway-man-cast-and-crew-mourn-the-death-of-writer-eric-lomax_3317659

Colin Firth:'Death railway' POW Eric Lomax dies 07:12 Tue Oct 9 2012AAP (MSN NZ)

Former prisoner of war Eric Lomax, whose moving memoir about working on the "death railway" in Thailand has been turned into a film starring Colin Firth, has died at the age of 93.

Lomax, who was captured at the fall of Singapore in 1942, was among thousands of servicemen who were used as slave labour by the Japanese on the railway.

He later came to terms with his treatment by meeting his interrogator many years later and writing about his experiences in his book The Railway Man.

Lomax, who was originally from Edinburgh, died on Monday in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Rachel Cugnoni, of his publisher Vintage Books, said: "The Railway Man was one of the landmark books of the 1990s.

"It tells Eric's incredible and moving story with grace, modesty and exceptional humility.

"It is a book that stands as a testament to the great capacity of the human spirit for forgiveness."


His book has been adapted this year for a forthcoming movie in which Oscar-winning star Firth plays him in later life. Jeremy Irvine plays him in his younger days.

Lomax was a signals officer who was captured with many other Allies in Singapore and held at the island's Changi jail. He was eventually taken to the Thai town of Kanchanaburi where he worked on the railway link to Burma.

The horrific conditions of the prisoners as they built the line, with a terrible loss of life, famously formed the basis of David Lean's 1957 film The Bridge On The River Kwai.

Lomax endured savage beatings when guards found a radio he had helped to build.

He went on to become a lecturer at Strathclyde University, but was haunted by his treatment and met the interpreter who had interrogated him while he was tortured, Takashi Nagase, after he wrote about his remorse in a book.

Lomax's wife, Patti, contacted Nagase and both men returned to Kanchanaburi to meet in 1993 and eventually became friends.

Andy Paterson, the producer of the new film, said: "The cast and crew of The Railway Man are deeply saddened to hear of Eric Lomax's death. All our thoughts today are with his family.

"We remember with great pleasure Eric and Patti's visit to the set in Berwick-upon-Tweed, just a few months ago.

READ MOREhttp://news.msn.co.nz/worldnews/8544880/death-railway-pow-eric-lomax-dies

First Pics Of Colin Firth & Nicole Kidman In 'The Railway Man' NEWS BY KEVIN JAGERNAUTH SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 5:08 PM (INDIEWIRE)

A couple of early stills have dropped from their upcoming "The Railway Man," which certainly points to the sunnier end of some tough subject matter. Based on the memoir by Eric Lomax (played by Firth), with a script by Frank Cottrell Boyce ("Millions," "24 Hour Party People") and "Burning Man" director Jonathan Teplitzky behind the camera, the true story tells the tale of a Scottish second lieutenant who was captured by the Japanese in Singapore during the war, and shipped off to a camp in Thailand, where he suffered terrible tortures, and was forced to help build the infamous bridge over the River Kwai, as seen in David Lean's epic (Jeremy Irvine will play the young Eric). Years later, he still suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, until his second wife, Patricia Wallace (Kidman), helped him to seek out closure by writing to his former captor (played by Hiroyuki Sanada).

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-pics-of-colin-firth-nicole-kidman-in-the-railway-man-20120924#

Colin Firth: Nicole Kidman married Colin Firth yesterday…(MR. PAPARAZZI)

…not in real life of course, silly.  Nicole and Colin were filming scenes for their upcoming movie The Railway Man in Scotland.

Nicole’s real-life husband Keith Urban chose the right day to turn up on set with their daughter Sunday Rose.

In between filming, the actress made sure she spent plenty of time with her little girl, who must have been slightly confused by her mother pretending to marry someone else.


read more:  http://www.mrpaparazzi.com/post/19018/Nicole-Kidman-married-Colin-Firth-yesterday

Colin Firth: Here comes the bride: Nicole Kidman wears a peach dress to wed Colin Firth as they film The Railway Man in front of fans in Scotland By KIRSTY MCCORMACK and KIMBERLEY DADDS PUBLISHED: 19:35 EST, 5 May 2012 | UPDATED: 09:14 EST, 6 May 2012 (DAILY MAIL)

She's already married to country singer Keith Urban but yesterday Nicole Kidman walked down the aisle again.

The 44-year-old was filming scenes for upcoming movie The Railway Man which saw her say 'I do' to British actor Colin Firth.

The famous pair managed to remain composed as they filmed outside the Scottish church despite crowds of fans watching nearby.

On the first day of filming the movie earlier this week Nicole couldn't hide her unhappiness as she already appeared fed up, but it seems that all it took was a wedding scene and some familiar faces to get her back on track.

The set became a family day out as Nicole's husband Keith turned up with their three-year-old daughter Sunday Rose.

The Australian star couldn't hide her delight as she cuddled and carried the youngster while still dressed in character in the Scottish setting.


Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2140231/Nicole-Kidman-wears-peach-dress-wed-Colin-Firth-film-The-Railway-Man-fans-Scotland.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Colin Firth: FANS WATCH COLIN FIRTH AND NICOLE KIDMAN WEDSunday May 6,2012 By Paula Murray (EXPRESS.CO)

NICOLE KIDMAN and Colin Firth were all smiles yesterday as they got married.

This was not some celebrity scandal though. Rather the Oscar-winners were filming a scene for the harrowing Second World War epic The Railway Man.

It is the story of Scottish PoW Eric Lomax, who as young soldier was captured by the Japanese in the fall of Singapore. He suffered horrifically while working on the notorious ­Burma railway.

Yesterday’s filming at the parish church of St Monans, a former fishing community in the East Neuk of Fife, was of Lomax played by Firth, marrying nurse Patti ­Wallace, played by Kidman.

Lomax’s second wife, Patti, 18 years his junior, helped him overcome his trauma and encouraged him to write his best- selling book The Railway Man.


READ MORE:  http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/318395/Fans-watch-Colin-Firth-and-Nicole-Kidman-wed

Colin Firth: Lomax tale staggering, admits Firth (THE BERWICK ADVISER)

Published on Wednesday 2 May 2012 14:59

actor Colin Firth has revealed how he was “overwhelmed” after meeting Eric Lomax, the Berwick man who has inspired Firth’s latest film ‘The Railway Man’.

Firth and Nicole Kidman, who is playing Lomax’s wife Patti, gave a press conference in Edinburgh to herald the start of a month-long shoot in locations including Berwick, Edinburgh, North Berwick and Holy Island on ‘The Railway Man’, which explores the impact of years of brutality and torture as Lomax worked on the ‘Death Railway’ in the Far East.

Firth has twice travelled to Lomax’s home in Berwick to meet the couple as part of his research on the film, which will chart more than 70 years of his life.

Jeremy Irvine, who shot to fame in the Oscar-winning ‘War Horse’, will play the young Lomax, who was brutally treated after being found with a clandestine radio.

Lomax, who was originally from Edinburgh, was an army signals officer captured in the 1941 fall of Singapore and later sent to the Burmese border jungle prison.


He famously won the UK’s premier award for non-fiction in 1996 – three years after his wife helped organise a meeting at the River Kwai with Nagase Takashi, the Japanese soldier who became his main tormentor, dramatic scenes which will be re-enacted in the film.

It was several decades after the war that Lomax met his wife-to-be on a train journey. Firth said: “They [Eric and Patti] are both incredibly engaging and made me feel very welcome. I found them both a delight, although I did feel at times a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the story.

“He is 92 and not really demonstrating that at all. He is mentally far more agile than I am. I have to keep up with him really. He has a tremendous sense of humour that can be a little dark at times.


READ MORE:  http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/local-headlines/lomax-tale-staggering-admits-firth-1-2269625

Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth nip down the Legion (NEWS SCOTSMAN)

Published on Thursday 3 May 2012 12:00

 THEY may be Hollywood A-listers, but Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth are expected down at the British Legion as they shoot scenes for their new film next week.

 Crews working on The Railway Man are understood to be setting up at the Cockenzie and Port Seton British Legion on Monday, with the big name duo at the forefront.

 The club, which has its own pipe and drum band, sits close to the shore of the Forth in West Harbour Road. Rumours of the impending arrival of the stars is already creating a buzz of excitement. Susan Bellany, a barmaid at the Thorntree Inn, said: “It is exciting and there’s a bit of a buzz around the place, especially with Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman being such big names. 

“They might come in for a pint. We’ll have our lippy on in case.”

 Kirsty Fraser, who works behind the bar at Cockenzie and Port Seton Bowling Club, said: “Nothing much goes on here normally so it’s good news. A lot of people will watch the film just to see our area in it.”


READ MORE:  http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/nicole-kidman-and-colin-firth-nip-down-the-legion-1-2271129

Colin Firth: Mr Darcy becomes Mr Dowdy! Colin Firth starts filming The Railway Man... as Nicole Kidman makes a glamorous arrival on set By SARAH BRUCE (MAIL ON LINE)

He earned his heart-throb status in breeches and that white shirt as the moody Mr Darcy. But it seems Colin Firth has swapped dashing and dangerous for comfortable corduroy in his latest film outing. Oscar-winning Firth’s latest 'period costume' seemed to date from about the 1950s, if his beige slacks, cardigan and sports jacket ensemble were anything to go by.

However, things got a little more glamorous today, with the arrival on set of Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who plays Lomax’s wife in the biopic. Yesterday, former Pride and Prejudice star Firth was spotted on the Edinburgh set of The Railway Man, the story of Scots soldier Eric Lomax, who survived Japan’s infamous Burma Railway during the Second World War.

Cast and crew are due to head to North Berwick, East Lothian, next month to film further scenes.

Mr Lomax, now 92, served as a British Army signals officer during the Second World War and was held in the notorious Changi PoW camp after the fall of Singapore in 1942. He was one of thousands of prisoners who were forced to work on the Death Railway between Thailand and Burma. During his imprisonment, he and a group of fellow soldiers were savagely beaten when they were discovered in possession of a radio.

The incident fuelled an intense hatred in Mr Lomax for Nagase Takashi, the interpreter who had interrogated him. But the two men are now friends after they met and were reconciled in 1993

READ MORE:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2136113/Colin-Firth-starts-filming-The-Railway-Man--Nicole-Kidman-makes-glamorous-arrival-set.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

COLIN FIRTH: The Railway Man Starts Shooting Firth, Kidman & crew talk war movies 27 April 2012 | Written by Stephen Carty (EMPIRE)

Filming is set to commence on wartime drama The Railway Man in Edinburgh on April 30, and ahead of that date we attended a press conference with the principle cast and crew in Scotland’s capital. In attendance were stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, new addition Stellan Skarsgard (whose casting was announced this morning) and Jeremy Irvine, himself no stranger to World War dramatics after playing the lead in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse.

There wasn't much in the way of news, since the movie's still gearing up, which Firth alluded to in typically articulate fashion when asked about his approach to the role. “I haven’t started it yet, so I don’t know how I’m approaching it”, he explained. “What you usually do is watch the film when it’s made and then you can tell the press conference that you intended it that way.”

For those unaware, The Railway Man is a true story adapted from Eric Lomax’s best-selling book. According to the official blurb, “Eric Lomax (Firth) was one of thousands of Allied prisoners of war forced to work on the construction of the Thai/Burma railway during World War II. Years later, still haunted by memories of brutality and torture, he met a beautiful woman on a train. Patti (Kidman) was determined to rid Eric of his demons. With the help of a wartime colleague, she set up a mission back to the Bridge on the River Kwai where Eric would confront his tormentor, Nagase (Hiroyuki Sanada, who was absent).”


READ MORE:  http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=33794

Colin Firth 'overwhelmed' by film's story Published on Thursday 26 April 2012 16:30 (GRANTHAM JOURNAL)

Colin Firth has said he felt "a little overwhelmed" by the enormity of the story to be told in his latest film The Railway Man.

The Oscar winner plays Eric Lomax, one of thousands of Allied prisoners of war forced to work on the construction of the Thai/Burma railway during the Second World War. Years later, still haunted by memories of the torture and brutality he endured, he meets Patti (Nicole Kidman), who tries to help him.

Shooting begins on April 30 in Scotland, where Lomax was from, and will later move to Thailand and Queensland, Australia. Colin has met Eric and Patti Lomax twice, and said the meetings helped prepare him.

He said: "They are both incredibly engaging and made me feel very welcome. I found them both a delight, though I did feel at times a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the story.Colin Firth has said he felt "a little overwhelmed" by the enormity of the story to be told in his latest film The Railway Man.

 The Oscar winner plays Eric Lomax, one of thousands of Allied prisoners of war forced to work on the construction of the Thai/Burma railway during the Second World War. Years later, still haunted by memories of the torture and brutality he endured, he meets Patti (Nicole Kidman), who tries to help him. Shooting begins on April 30 in Scotland, where Lomax was from, and will later move to Thailand and Queensland, Australia.

Colin has met Eric and Patti Lomax twice, and said the meetings helped prepare him. He said: "They are both incredibly engaging and made me feel very welcome. I found them both a delight, though I did feel at times a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the story.


READ MORE:  http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz-news/firth-overwhelmed-by-film-s-story-1-3784333

Colin Firth shows he’s still got specs appeal (SCOTSMAN.COM)

published on Friday 27 April 2012 12:11

 Hollywood superstar Colin Firth has been spotted in the Capital as he prepares to film his latest movie in Scotland. Oscar-winner Firth’s costume for The Railway Man – in which he stars as Edinburgh-born prisoner of war Eric Lomax – included a natty moustache and pair of glasses.

Pride and Prejudice star Firth was seen walking in and out of a make-up trailer in the Craigmillar area yesterday. One onlooker said: “We couldn’t get close to the building because it was fenced off. But we saw Colin Firth come out of the building and he went into a trailer for about two hours.

“He was in costume and we gave him a wave, but he looked a bit grumpy. Maybe it was the weather.” The film also stars Nicole Kidman, who is expected to arrive on set today. The Australian plays Lomax’s wife. And film crews are due to head to North Berwick next month to shoot scenes for the movie.


READ MORE:  http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/colin-shows-he-s-still-got-specs-appeal-1-2260163

Colin Firth: Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman hit North Berwick for movie (NEW SCOTSMAN)

Published on Thursday 26 April 2012 12:00

 WITH its quiet beaches and well-manicured fairways, North Berwick seems a universe away from the glamour of Holywood.

 But excitement is building in the picturesque East Lothian town ahead of the arrival of two of cinema’s biggest names.

 Oscar winners Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman will jet in next month to film scenes for The Railway Man – the story of Edinburgh-born prisoner of war Eric Lomax.

 It is the latest A-list movie to be shot in Scotland following Brad Pitt’s zombie film World War Z, Scarlett Johansson’s sci-fi horror Under The Skin, and Skyfall, the new James Bond instalment. It is understood crews will be filming in North Berwick from May 13-18, and that much of the shoot will take place in Tantallon Terrace. Crews are also expected to head to Port Seton.


READ MORE:  http://www.scotsman.com/news/colin-firth-and-nicole-kidman-hit-north-berwick-for-movie-1-2256314

Colin Firth: Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman coming to Scotland to shoot The Railway Man Oscar-winning stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman are reportedly heading to Edinburgh this weekend to start shooting the true story about a Scottish prisoner of war. (STV)

Oscar-winning stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman are reportedly heading to Edinburgh this weekend to start shooting the true story about a Scottish prisoner of war.

 The Railway Man is based on the life and book of Eric Lomax and will begin its shoot in the Edinburgh area from Monday, according to The Herald, before moving to Thailand in May and Australia in June. Firth said of the film in September: “It is a true story. My character’s story occupies Britain, precisely Berwick.”

 Lomax was a British Army officer who was sent to a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in 1942. There he was tortured and forced to work on the notorious “death railway” in what was then known as Burma. The Scottish scenes for the £12 million film see Lomax (Firth) and his wife Patti (Kidman) facing up to the psychological scars of his captivity and finding some reconciliation with one of the Japanese officers.

 He added: “Eric Lomax – the character I play in The Railway Man, is now 91 – and I’ve grown up reading that book.

READ MORE:  http://entertainment.stv.tv/film/304841-colin-firth-and-nicole-kidman-coming-to-scotland-to-shoot-the-railway-man/

Colin Firth: War criminal's son and British 'railway man' bridge war's painful divide By ROGER PULVERS Special to The Japan Times

In September 1943, eight British officers were tortured by their Japanese captors at the prisoner-of-war camp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The camp, and a nearby bridge over the Kwai River, were later the setting for director David Lean's multi-Oscar-winning 1957 film "The Bridge on the River Kwai," about the ordeals undergone by tens of thousands of POWs forced to build the Thai-Burma Railway.

One of those officers was Lt. Eric Lomax. Then 24, he was a Signal Corps engineer from Edinburgh who had been captured when Britain's "impregnable fortress" of Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942. He was eventually transported to Thailand, where he ended up at the camp in Kanchanaburi.

While at the camp, Lt. Lomax conspired with fellow prisoners to hide a radio. In addition, he drew a map that, if sent to Allied troops fighting the Japanese, could have provided valuable intelligence. The existence of the radio and the map was discovered by the dreaded Kempeitai (Military Police Corps) stationed at the camp.

It is a miracle that he survived the torture, which included hours of beatings, simulated drownings and exposure to the elements. In fact, two fellow officers failed to survive their "interrogations."

A film version of "The Railway Man" is currently in pre-production in England, Thailand and Australia. The character of Lomax as an old man is being played by Colin Firth and, as a young man, by Jeremy Irvine. Rachel Weisz was to play Lomax's wife, Patti, but she was recently replaced by Nicole Kidman.

"(This story) is really like what it means to be home (after the war)," Firth said about "The Railway Man" movie. While the scenes at the camp, with all their horrific impact, and incidents surrounding the building of the Thai-Burma Railway and the infamous bridge over the Kwai River will be recreated in the film, its message is to be one of reconciliation and the unbreakable bond between victim and victimizer.

Continue reading the amazing story:  http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120408rp.html