Dusting Off the Shelf: Letter U

Something a bit different this time… read on to find out why Unbroken made the cut.

Synopsis: The story of an Olympian who became a POW during WWII. Starts as a punk kid, who learns focus and gains the ability to survive. Based on a book- however, the film takes some liberties and stops before really getting into the things he dealt with in recovering from his ordeal and returning to a normal life.

Why I chose this film: This is where it gets truly different- I did not have this on my shelf, I have it at work for my “Cinema Therapy” groups. So, I chose this film because they voted on possible titles and this was in a tie. I gave them the option of this film or Friday Night Lights, and my guys chose this one. Not my usual cup of tea at all- not say I don’t enjoy a drama (I do), but when I sit down to watch a movie, I am more likely to chose something more fun.

We had several good discussions (not gonna lie, it took us a few weeks to finish it with the group schedule), especially talking about willpower and perseverance after he became a POW. And let me tell you, it is really interesting to see inmates process imprisoned characters situations (but that’s a story for another time).

Will I watch it again: I will, but in the same type of situation. I do not believe- even though it was really well done- this film would make its way into my regular viewing at home…

Why you should watch it too (or run far away!): As I briefly mentioned above, this film was well done. So… if you enjoy WWII stories, stories of survival, true stories, dramas, etc., then I think you would enjoy this as well.