the thing is you know russell crowe can save a film
so even a pretty average flick can be given a bit of spark
but - this one seemed interesting even without the crowe factor
set 100 years ago shortly after world war one and mostly in turkey
the opening scenes showing the turks in a final assault on the anzacs
saving private ryan or fury it is not - the action is a bit short of conviction
ditto the cgi scenes of the anzac forces withdrawing from gallipoli via ship
but let's go with it - the first main character introduced - turkish major hasan
then we cut back to rural australia and main man connor (crowe) at work
using his divining skills to find water and then dig himself a deep well
cynicism suppression required as we see him complete it in one session
returning home to the little lady and an insistence he reads to 'the boys'
bedtime stories completed - but no boys - a ritual for their lost sons
killed 5 years earlier at anzac cove - flashbacks of them leaving seen
connor carrying some guilt for letting them go - she even more troubled
she drowns herself - from him a graveside promise to 'bring the boys home'
a 3 month journey by horseback and boat to turkey filled up with flashbacks
showing the 3 boys fighting side by side against some serious machine-gun fire
at least one dead and the other 2 seemingly seriously wounded - did they die?
first stop for connor is constantinople (istanbul) and a chase through the city
he in pursuit of a small boy who cleverly grabs his suitcase to get his business
they arrive at an exotic looking hotel managed by the boys now widowed mother
she is quite beautiful and the likely ending of the film rung out loud and clear
then some argy-bargy at the british consulate to secure access to anzac cove
and a side-trip to the stunning blue mosque with connor (crowe) seen inside
yep ok - accepted - some filming done in turkey so we've got some authenticity
connor arrives at anzac cove at the same time major hasan is there as an advisor
he brought in to provide expert advice to locate the burial sites of killed soldiers
we're all friends now the war is over though there is still some benign hostility
stereotyping of british officers (stuffy) and aussie diggers (manly) maximised
hasan and connor buddy up when it is discovered elder son arthur survived
greek nationalists are on the march and they and other turks escape via train
director russell crowe would want us to believe we are in turkey - na - aussie
them's there eucalyptus trees in the background of the desert-traversing train
an ambush by the greeks and hasan and connor in turn save each others life
and ride off zorro and tin-tin style on horseback as the guns blaze at them
they want to locate arthur and stumble on a likely town of his residence
connor knows this as he spots a windmill that mirrors one he has built
sure enough arthur is found at work painting frescos in the local church
father and son embrace and then more flashbacks as arthur comes clean
one brother killed by enemy fire - the other shot in the head by arthur
he mortally wounded and begging for death at the hands of his brother
the tears flowing on screen and off (i suspect) with this revelation
but the greeks are closing in so they escape together - miraculously
high up a in a village they leap into a well and then seen in a river
soon after rocking up at the hotel seen prior in the opening scenes
and yep - the beauty is a-waiting and a-vailable - and has a friend
father and son set up with the women folk of their prior enemies
saw it coming but still just a little bit too cosy/happy ending-ish
the credits roll leading with a few sobering facts of world war one
not the least being the millions of lives lost and families torn apart
a reminder also of russell crowe director and james packer producer
explaining the australia-centric and tugging of nationalistic heartstrings
but the overriding thinking - it should have been an abc tv mini-series
awards for this one unlikely but there will be lots of bums on seats
all the right buttons pressed to provide appeal across the board
for me - appreciate the context and sincerity but...average flick
