The Far Country (1986)

Good Find!

We have not read the book, but thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The characters are dynamic, the plot well-paced, and the acting professional. Michael York's character was fascinating, and I think many faces of human nature were explored through his evolution and his influence on those around him. We were sorry when it was over! July 14, 2008

ENJOY THE MOVIE FOR WHAT IT IS, A MOVIE!

I own this movie and I have never read the book. I enjoyed the movie very much - I do not understand why people give movies such bad ratings because they do not follow the book. Can't anyone just enjoy the movie for itself and it's own contents?
September 6, 2007

How do you ruin a good novel?

Answer: You begin by sort of reading a novel, then think that you can do a better job with it. Make up some stuff you think your sponsors would like. And delete some stuff you don't think is important to the overall plot (because you didn't understand why the author put it in his book in the first place.)

I always expect "dramatizations" to be lousy and this has lived up to that expectation marvelously. It's lucky that Nevil Shute is dead or else this would have surely killed him.

The screenwriter changed ALOT:
1. The Holocaust is never mentioned in the novel. So all the scenes in the movie concerning that is fanfic by the screenwriters.
2. In the novel, Carl is well-liked by the other lumbermen. In fact, he serves as the camp doctor.
3. In the novel, the local doctor is rather supportive, though cautiously, of Carl---to the point where he writes to the British Medical Association about making an exemption for Carl.
4. In the novel there is a very important subplot about Carl trying to find the identity of a "Charlie Zlinter" who lived and died in the Howqua 50 years earlier. The screenwriters obviously discarded Shute's plot for the NAZI one.

It's a wonder the screenwriter didn't do some more "improvements".

So do yourself a favor and honor Mr. Shute by reading the book, instead of filling your brain with this tripe.

September 1, 2005

This Film Has A Great Message

I saw this film when I was young, and am quite happy to find it again. It is the story of a doctor who was forced to join the German Army during WWII, and later moved to Australia, hoping to escape the memories and prejudice of war. After attempting to save the life of a logging man, the community discovers he was in the German Army, and he is threatened with deportation.
I can't give away the ending, but the message is real and heart felt. Definitely worth watching. December 27, 2001

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