My book club chose the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand several years ago. I didn't know much about it so I decided to check it out of the library instead of buy it. I was number 315 in line to check it out so I didn't participate in my book club discussion. I had forgotten all about it by the time I got the notification that it was my turn and I really didn't know what to expect. I read it in one day and I was so incredibly moved by Louis Zamperini's courage! When I found out that Angelina Jolie was directing the movie adaptation, I knew I had to see it! The day after Christmas, Marilyn and I took our Mom to see it (my Mom was thrilled to be going to a "late" movie) and I was, once again, so moved by Zamperini's story (I cried through most of it). It is not any easy film to watch but it is absolutely beautiful. It begins with Zamperini as a bombardier on a mission in the Pacific. Then it flashes back to his difficult childhood as an Italian immigrant in California. His brother trains him as a long distance runner as a way to keep him out of trouble and he eventually makes it to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin (I loved the scenes at the Olympics, especially the 360 view of the stadium after the race). Back in the present, Zamperini goes out on a reconnaissance mission over the Pacific with a sub-standard plane and eventually crashes. He survives on a raft for 47 days until he is picked up by the Japanese and sent to a POW camp where he is repeatedly tormented by the commandant of the camp, Mutsuhiro "Bird" Watanabe, until the end of the war. I think it is a great adaptation of the book, even though Jolie has been criticized for leaving out Zamperini's conversion to evangelical Christianity which some feel is the climax of the story. In my opinion, the climax of the story is when Zamperini lifts a giant piece of wood, proving to "Bird" that he can't be broken. I think Jack O'Connell does an amazing job as Zamperini and I also was very impressed with Miyavi's performance as Watanabe. You hate Watanabe so much for what he does to Zamperini but Miyavi gives him a kind of vulnerability that makes you understand why he does what he does. The scene where he breaks down after Zamperini lifts the piece of wood is incredible. I loved this movie and I highly recommend it!
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