As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me

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Let me state first off that "As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me" has, on Amazon.com, subtitles, but the movie is so captivating that within a few seconds of watching it, I forgot that it was subtitled. The lead character (a German soldier captured and imprisoned by the Soviets) is so humanly mesmerizing that It is easy to identify with his plight, i.e., to put yourself in his shoes. His eyes, body language and attitude portray the horrible events of his new experience, pain, anguish, etc., as he begins his existence as a prisoner in a labor camp, forced to work in the mines in a bitterly cold climate in a remote environment making escape extremely difficult. This is a far cry from his former life as a family man and well-thought of German soldier. Again, I loved it.

To start with my reservation, I would have prefered this movie if they had stuck to the facts of the book and not tried to rewrite parts to meet their agenda, so keep in mind this story is not the true story, for that read the book. With that said, the movie is still inspirational and still is based loosely after an amazing story of an escape and a journey inspired by the man's love for his wife and daughter. I don't like to write spoilers, so will just say if you want to watch an inspiring story with nice cinemaphotography here you go, but I would also advise reading the book.

Having watched this DVD twice I decided to find and buy the book to try to get the answers to some unexplained facets of this remarkable story -- parts of which, as depicted in the film, are simply unbelievable.Most importantly I wanted to understand, how 'Forell' (the name used to disguise the true identity of the subject of the film and book) got from the point where he left the train carrying him east into Siberia to Cape Dezhenev.From my personal knowledge of the Trans-Siberian Railway (and the BAM Railway, constructed well AFTER the events depicted,) the nearest railroad siding would be SEVERAL THOUSAND, perhaps FIVE THOUSAND, KILOMETRES from the Cape, a near impossible distance for any fit and experienced person to walk in good weather let alone a half starved and freezing prisoner in mid-winter.According to the book, written and published in 1955, his journey after de-training was continued in 'convoy', (that is under strict regime by brutal guards hell bent on weeding out those unfit for slave labour at the final destination,) by reindeer drawn sled, each one of which carried twenty prisoners plus guards.This phase of the journey took TEN WEEKS and saw the continuing decimation of the original contingent of 3,000 that left Moscow down to just 1,600 by the time they reached their final destination -- almost within site of Alaska.Apart from getting the answer to this intriguing question I found that the epic adventure as related in the book, ghost written for 'Forell' by an author of considerable experience and repute, and who was also a veteran of The Russian Front, bears almost no resemblance to that depicted in the film. Whole incidents shown in the film are not mentioned in 'Forell's' authorised account of his time in the GULAG or in Siberia as a whole. On the other hand many incidents detailed in the written account, which is likely to be more factual, are not shown in the film ---- for which it is all the more a poorer depiction of this epic tale of survival against remarkable odds.I understand that film-makers must be selective about what they can depict in a given amount of time, and that a 'Love Interest' is almost mandatory, but the divergence between the original book, and the cinematic version, from beginning to end, is breathtaking in the extreme.How 'Forell' arrived in Russia in the first place is not as depicted in the film. It seems, according to the book, he got there in a much more interesting fashion. Also the relentless pursuit of 'Forell' by an individual officer of the KGB (MVD) appears to be 'cinematic licence'. No such individual is even hinted at in the book, the only brushes with authorities who might return him to The Cape are very incidental and shortlived.In short the book is MUCH MORE rivetting, entertaining and believable. If the film interested you then the book will leave you SPELLBOUND. !!!!!!!!!!!!! Once started it almost demands to be read to the conclusion without a break. Sadly at the end of it will you probably ask yourself, as I have, why did the film have to be at such variance with the facts as related by "Forell" ?????????.Next I must hunt down a copy of the 1950's German TV miniseries which told the story (in 6 parts ?????????) to see how they handled this epic tale.But for the casual viewer a great tale.

Wonderful life determination.

I like movies about escapes and WWII. This one felt so predictable from the moment the soldier is saying goodbye to his little daughter at the train statin: "Daddy, you will be home soon?" "Yes darling." The pretty blond wife standing by. There is in general a very soft and forgiving focus on what German soldiers were up to in that war. Of course Nazi soldiers had families and loved ones, etc. but the broader criminality of their war should not be discounted. It felt as if the film didn't want to make Germans feel bad I'm sorry. Have Jewish relatives. The currents around these issues are still dangerous now. But it was more the ponderous setup that made us turn it off after about 15 minutes.

This movie is as good as it gets. It is refreshing to watch international films and one tends to forget that they have their own Academy and Emmy Awards systems in Europe. This movie will make you realize what scrafice is for family. This moive applies to all our young men and women who are fighting in conflicts around the world and this movie helps one to see the scrafices they make by leaving love ones behind w/the faith to see them again at all costs. Very well made and excellent acting. Enjoy this movie! Watched it twice, makes you dig into your soul and see how far you are willing to make scrafice for something greater.

As another reviewer noted, this movie will "stay with you!" Right now, I am reading Anne Applebaum's PultizerPrize book "Gulag: A History." Applebaum writes of the thousands of gulags across the frozen vastness of Russiabut her history applies to ALL who suffered in these terrible places. Our "hero" just happens to be a Germanprisoner-of-war. And while his suffering was the same as millions of Russians, Ukranians, Poles and other prisoners,his fate was different. He made it home. Of the millions of German soldiers sent to Siberia, only about 5 percentsurvived to return home. This extraordinary film enables us to visualize something of what life was like in thatremote dark Stalinist world. I recommend it highly.

Loved this film good value for your money

After reading the book, I sent for the film. The book depicted the true story of a German soldier who escaped from a Russian prison,which seemed like hell on earth, and his long journey over vicious terrain, which took him three years.The film showed his incredible journey and his fight for survival. I wasn't expecting the film to be able to convey anything like the book, but I was wrong. The film was very true to the book. It has sub-titles, which you soon get used to, and at least you knew what everyone said, so you didn't miss anything.An incredible film. The DVD arrived very quickly, so I recommend the seller too.

Fabulous movie based on true story, thrilling however full of hope, displaying strength of human spirit and drive to succeed despite all odds, marvellous survival or an individual who has never lost a faith and importance of his main objective, his family.Finally for a change it's nice to watch a powerful movie showing the faith of many German soldiers captured by Russian troops and how they struggled to survived the hashes conditions of Siberia, the inhuman treatment they suffered during their Gulag imprisonment and the brutal reality they faced everyday in order to survive.I Highly recommend.

The DVD was excellent. The attention to detail regards uniform and the history was superb. I must say that I had read the book twice before watching the DVD and would recommend that the book be read first. A little bit of poetic licence by the Director in two scenes ie: The Doctor committing suicide and the Russian officer following him for 3 years right up to the Iranian border - Forrell would not have known that. A MUST read and WATCH. ******Regards,Michael Kusternig

I saw this by accident one night coming in from the pub half drunk but it stuck with me & I caught it again about a year later when in a more sober state. Based on the novel & supposedly a true story, it follows a German soldier's escape from a Russian labour camp & his long trek to freedom. Comparisons will be made with Slavomir Rawic's The Long Walk. Again based on fact but to me Rawic's book was better but the film poorer than As Far as My Feet............