"The Railway Man" movie quotes tell the true story of one former World War II prisoner of war who struggles to cope with his experience decades later. Jonathan Teplitzky directed the film which was adapted by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson from the autobiography of the same name by Eric Lomax. The film opened theatrically in the United States on April 11, 2014.
In "The Railway Man," Eric Lomax (portrayed by Jeremy Irvine and Colin Firth) suffers from lingering psychological and emotional trauma from his time in WWII. Many years earlier, Eric, a British officer, was taken captive by the Japanese in Singapore, tortured and forced to help build the Thai-Burma Railway. Instead of submitting to the Japanese, Eric, and his best friend Finlay (portrayed by Sam Reid and Stellan Skarsgård), vowed their revenge on their captors.
After many years pass, Eric's wife Patti (Nicole Kidman) grows frustrated that Eric holds so much pain from that time and confides in Finlay for help. Finlay finds out that Eric's captor, Takashi Nagase (portrayed by Tanroh Ishida and Hiroyuki Sanada) is alive and gives Eric his current location. Eric goes to confront Takashi about his role in the abuse only to learn that making peace with the situation isn't as simple as he thinks.
This touching war film brings a serious tone to theaters already packed with other movies including "Draft Day," "Under the Skin," "Dom Hemingway," "Joe," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "Sabotage," "Noah," "Blood Ties," the "Veronica Mars" movie, "Need for Speed," "Mr. Peabody and Sherman," "300: Rise of an Empire," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Cheap Thrills," "Monuments Men," "Winter's Tale," "RoboCop (2014), "About Last Night," "Vampire Academy," "The Lego Movie," "Gimme Shelter," "I, Frankenstein," "Ride Along," and "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit."
The Railway Man Movie Quotes,
War Leaves a Mark
Patti Lomax: "He is a wonderful man. I've seen it, but he is a mess. I want to know what happened to Eric. I don't believe in this code of silence you have."
Finlay: "War leaves a mark."
Patti confides in Finlay, her husband Eric's best friend, in hopes that Finlay can shed some light on the emotional toll from which Eric suffers. She doesn't like that neither Eric or Finlay talk about their experiences in the war and hopes to change that.
To Build a Railway
Takashi Nagase: "You have no honor. You are here to help us."
Finlay: "To build a railway."
Takashi Nagase: "If you help. You will have a good war."
Eric Lomax: "But we said no. We'll live to fight you. We'll live for revenge."
In a scene that spans generations, Finlay and Eric remember what it was like working on the Thai-Burma Railway as prisoners of war. They were coerced into submission but Eric and others never gave in.
Sometimes the Hating Has to Stop
Eric Lomax: "I have suffered much. But I know you have suffered too. And you mean everything to me. Sometimes the hating has to stop."
Eric, after he finds resolution with his past, reunites with wife Patti. It's then when he can truly love her and find peace as he has let go of his hate.
Why Are You Alive?
Takashi Nagase: "I'm afraid the museum is closed."
Eric Lomax: "I'm surprised, you don't recognize me."
Takashi Nagase: "Lomax… I did not expect you to be alive."
Eric Lomax: "No, of course you didn't. You'd thought you'd got away with it. Why are you alive?"
Takashi Nagase: "Why are we alive?"
Eric Lomax: "No, you. Why are you alive? You are a war criminal. Why didn't they hang you?"
Takashi Nagase: "Not a war criminal, just an interpreter"
Eric Lomax: "You were Kempetai and you knew everything! Why did they let you live?"
Eric comes face to face with Takashi Nagase, the man who tortured him during the war. But this time the roles are reversed. Eric gets to interrogate Takashi.
My Husband Isn't Coping
Finlay: "Lot of men went through something you can't imagine. You will have to let us just cope with it."
Patti Lomax: "My husband isn't coping. I love him and I want him back."
Finlay: "Will you stand by him whatever he does?"
Patti Lomax: "I have to try."
Patti and Finlay talk about Eric and how he is coping, or not coping, with what happened to him as a prisoner of war. Patti wants to see Eric heal but understands that it won't be easy.
I'm Still at War
Eric Lomax: "He was my friend. He was a prisoner here. You put your life in my hands. He wanted an end to this."
Takashi Nagase: "You were a soldier, Lomax. You never surrendered."
Eric Lomax: "I'm still at war."
Eric was hell bent on revenge when he went to see his former captor Takashi but now that the roles have been reversed, it's then that Eric learns how he truly can find peace with what happened.
He's Alive and I Know Where He Is
Eric Lomax: "He's alive?"
Finlay: "He's alive and I know where he is. He won't have a clue you're coming."
Finlay shares the news that the Kempetai who tortured Eric is still alive and well many years after the war. It gets better. Finlay gives Eric the exact location of this former enemy.
Real Men Would Die of Shame
Eric Lomax: "When we surrendered the Jap said we weren't men. 'real men would die of shame.'"
Eric opens up about his experiences in the war, specifically what happened to him after he was captured by the Japanese. As if the physical abuse was not enough, he faced a great deal of emotional abuse as well.