Storyline

As prisoner of war Clemens Forell, a German soldier during WW II, is sentenced to a labor camp in far east Siberia. After four years working in the mines he escapes from the camp (in 1949) and tries to get home to his wife and children. For three years he journeys through Siberia. An odyssey of 14,000 kilometers, set against a backdrop of desolate and inhospitable landscape, beset by danger (from both animals and humans). Constantly battling the worst nature can throw at him, Forell makes his way, step by step towards Prussia and the longed-for freedom. Sometimes riding on trains, sometimes by boat, mostly on foot, he never knows if his next step won't be his last. His prosecutor Kamenev is always right behind him, and more than once it seems that Forell is captured again...—Pooh Frames

Plot Keywords

bear, soldiers, lieutenant colonel, emotional, prison camp, europe, work, band, escape, 19th century

Short Review

Cinematically, some of the scenes were outstanding. And, overall, the acting was quite good. Bettermann is a fine leading man. The trouble with the movie was its adaptation from the book which was about the many encounters and relationships he had with various persons in prison and during his arduous journey. There was enough material for a mini-series, however, the movie, which didn't want to leave out any of the source material, was spread so thin, it could provide only the briefest parts of each sub-story. It was boiled down to an adventure story with no inkling about the protagonist's inner life other than his desire to see his family again.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership