Unbroken: A Movie Review

Louis Zamperini was a kid who knew just where to find trouble.  Whether he was smoking, drinking, or getting caught fighting, he was falling and falling fast.  That is, until his brother got him interested in the sport that would give him winning records and Olympic status.  If only this was the only obstacle he had to overcome in life.

After he was drafted during WW2, Louis and his fellow crew were sent on a mission to rescue a team not yet found.  Unfortunately, it was this crew that would need rescuing.  Louis' plane not only crashed after malfunctioning, but only 3 men survived, and they were stranded in shark infested waters for weeks.  The men were eventually found, but only 2 would leave the sea.

You'd think being rescued would be a good thing, but this is questionable as it was the Japanese who were doing the rescuing.  Louis and his friend were taken to a camp for American prisoners of war.  This new chapter Louis was about to embark on would change his life forever, more than any shark infested sea.

You see, Louis was now at the camp run by "The Bird."  The Bird was known for his evil conduct with prisoners and when he met Louis, he was fixated.  The Bird's mission was to break Louis down until he was nothing.  Whether it was severe beatings, being punched in the face as hard as possible by all of the prisoners at the camp (by order of the Bird), working in harsh conditions with injured limbs, and starvation, he would not stop until Louis faltered.

Here was Louis, one of the fastest runners in history who couldn't be beat, and he was being tested.  Tested on just how much someone can go through before just letting go of life itself.  Louis kept fighting though.  he kept pushing, because that was all any of them could do to get back at the Japanese.  They just had to survive until the war was over.

This true story was one of those movies I delayed seeing.  I knew what it entailed as I read the book, and I just didn't know if I could see it.  I am glad I did.  Angelina did a wonderful job capturing the spirit of this man, this fighter.  It will make you feel grateful for those who put themselves through the worst conditions for others.  It will also remind you that even in circumstances when others hurt you more than imaginable, whether it be physically, emotionally, or both, forgiveness is possible.