Paradise Road (1997)
| Title | Paradise Road |
| Year | 1997 |
| Country | Australia, USA |
| Genre | War (Movies) |
| Collection | Dance and Music |
| Run Time | 2h 2 min |
| Director |
In Paradise Road (1997), an Australian war film directed by Bruce Beresford, a group of women from England, America, the Netherlands, and Australia are imprisoned by the Japanese in Sumatra during World War II. During a dance at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore for soldiers and their families, they are abruptly forced to flee when the Battle of Singapore breaks out and a bomb explodes outside. The women and children are quickly taken away on a boat for safety. However, the boat is soon bombed by Japanese fighter planes, causing them to jump into the water. Among them are three women – Adrienne Pargiter, Rosemary Leighton-Jones, and Susan Macarthy – who manage to swim to the shores of Sumatra.
They are discovered by Captain Tanaka, a Japanese officer, who takes them first to an abandoned village and then to a jungle prison camp where they reunite with the others from the boat. At the camp, the women are forced to bow to the Japanese officers and its flag, enduring violence, torture, and forced labor in addition to the brutal living conditions and constant sickness. Some choose to work in a brothel for better treatment and decent food. Eventually, Adrienne and missionary Daisy ‘Margaret’ Drummond form a vocal orchestra to uplift the women, despite social and religious gatherings being prohibited by the Japanese. Although it offers temporary relief, their enthusiasm quickly fades and their numbers dwindle.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Glenn CloseAdrienne Pargiter  Frances McDormandDr. Verstak  Pauline CollinsMargaret Drummond  Julianna MarguliesTopsy Merritt  Cate BlanchettSusan Macarthy  Jennifer EhleRosemary Leighton-Jones  Wendy HughesMrs. Dickson  Johanna ter SteegeSister Wilhelminia |
In Paradise Road (1997), an Australian war film directed by Bruce Beresford, a group of women from England, America, the Netherlands, and Australia are imprisoned by the Japanese in Sumatra during World War II. During a dance at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore for soldiers and their families, they are abruptly forced to flee when the Battle of Singapore breaks out and a bomb explodes outside. The women and children are quickly taken away on a boat for safety. However, the boat is soon bombed by Japanese fighter planes, causing them to jump into the water. Among them are three women – Adrienne Pargiter, Rosemary Leighton-Jones, and Susan Macarthy – who manage to swim to the shores of Sumatra.
They are discovered by Captain Tanaka, a Japanese officer, who takes them first to an abandoned village and then to a jungle prison camp where they reunite with the others from the boat. At the camp, the women are forced to bow to the Japanese officers and its flag, enduring violence, torture, and forced labor in addition to the brutal living conditions and constant sickness. Some choose to work in a brothel for better treatment and decent food. Eventually, Adrienne and missionary Daisy ‘Margaret’ Drummond form a vocal orchestra to uplift the women, despite social and religious gatherings being prohibited by the Japanese. Although it offers temporary relief, their enthusiasm quickly fades and their numbers dwindle.
