‘Way Back’ works magic

The emotions in “The Way Back” feel genuine, and the journey the characters take across Asia is incredible. Watching the escaped prisoners form bonds throughout all the hardships they endure made me appreciate all the amenities I take for granted.

A few solid performances make this film work, most notably from Ed Harris and Saoirse Ronan (“The Lovely Bones”), in conjunction with the on location cinematography. The scenery mesmerizes with its harshness and beauty. Director Peter Weir (“Dead Poets Society,” “The Truman Show”) strikes some remarkably compelling visual metaphors that I hesitate to spoil. Suffice it to say, he knows how to drop hints without hitting you over the head.

Some of the relationships don’t make as much sense as they could, and you’ll often confuse characters at the beginning because they’re all covered in dirt and speak in the same old country dialect. Colin Farrell’s character departs abruptly and never returns, as if the filmmakers realized he wasn’t worth the money halfway through.

On the whole, though, “The Way Back” is a tightly constructed, emotionally dense film well worth trekking through the snow to see.