The Narrow Road to the Deep North

We finished watching it last evening. Marvellous, though I had to look away at times. I think we all know of the Japanese cruelty, so that was no great surprise.
Not sure I found Ciaran Hinds a good fit for the older Dorrigo.
I feel there was something missing , so I shall read the book to see if it is there

Tbh I wouldn't describe it as graphic, it was the intensity that I felt was so affecting together with seeing the effect it had on those witnessing it. I felt as if I was there with them. The slow pace and the repetitive music was very effective at creating an atmosphere of such sadness. I thought it was quite an exceptional production but clearly not to everyone's taste.

Doodledog

I'm not sure that 'shying away' from those scenes is the best way to refer to finding them deeply upsetting. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but one extended scene between the guard and a prisoner was particularly horrible. That sort of thing can be alluded to without such extreme violence being screened, IMO.

I’ve never watched anything as graphic. And I don’t shy away from pretty brutal films or series that many people won’t watch.

I'm not sure that 'shying away' from those scenes is the best way to refer to finding them deeply upsetting. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but one extended scene between the guard and a prisoner was particularly horrible. That sort of thing can be alluded to without such extreme violence being screened, IMO.

I was deeply moved by it and can’t believe some of the comments! A profound story based on fact, great acting (although Elordi’s gorgeousness was a bit distracting) and I didn’t shy away from watching the labour camp scenes. It happened and the spirit of those poor men shone through.
I hadn’t read the book but someone’s lent it to me so am looking forward to that.
Best thing I’ve seen in ages and the critics seem to agree.

I've just watched the last episode and wow, I found it profound and deeply moving. I don't cry usually but I did find I was welling up at several points in the last two episodes. I totally understand why many won't like it, it's not enjoyable but for me, I'm glad I watched it through despite the rubbish sound at times and the gloomy lighting. It's made me think about the damage that violence does to everyone who witnesses it, perpetrates it or is receiving of it and for me at least, relates to what is happening now in so many parts of the world.

I have got an unfinished book about Japanese prisoners of war; Judy..it's about a dog during the war that kept up the moral of captured soldiers. I may dip back into it to see what it says about the prison camps.

MayBee70

The beheading is just the beginning….I’m Game of Thrones hardened and I didn’t have a problem with American Primeval. But this is on another level.

Agreed.

As I said earlier, the 'warnings' we get about the most trivial of things in TV programmes don't prepare us for something like this. IMO they should be kept for when needed, so people can decide what to watch. I realise that we all have different thresholds for what we consider tolerable, but this was on a whole new level and is not remotely comparable to someone on Eastenders contemplating suicide or people smoking in programmes made in the 70s.

I suggested this programme to MrIlovedogs as it sounded
right- up his alley. However, even He, who watches every single boring programme going, found it very tedious.
Now, if MrIlovedogs finds it boring, it's got to be bottom- numbingly, brain-rottingly boring.
I, being shallow would only watch it for handsome lead actor. 🤔

The beheading is just the beginning….I’m Game of Thrones hardened and I didn’t have a problem with American Primeval. But this is on another level.

I read the book and found it v grim. However, it was a horrible period in history so its not exactly fantasy. I don't think I’ll watch it- too upsetting as it will remind me of a family member who was a Japanese pow and didn't talk about it much but what he did say was horrible. The experiences made him a difficult character. Its funny as I don't have a problem with most violent dramas as I know they aren’t real.

I've just watched the third episode, couldn't get the subtitles to work but actually didn't struggle to hear what was being said for this one. I haven't read the book but I think I might. OH gave up on it but tbh I enjoy these dark, atmospheric dramas although I looked away for the beheading. It certainly evokes the horror of building the railway and the lasting effect on the men involved.

I have an even greater problem if people speak in an American or Australian accent. I wonder too if, because some of these series are filmed quite dark we actually lip read more than we're aware of and can't do so? I still don't understand why I can't get subtitles to work for some episodes. On Must Watch they said there had been lots of complaints about the sound, too, although the presenters all said it was a Must Watch. I think they mentioned the reason for things being inaudible, too.

Why does this mumbling happen? I read a review somewhere that suggested that TV programmes are recorded using techniques more suitable for the cinema, but given the sophistication of modern recording, and the level of qualifications of the engineers, surely problems with audio could be sorted out before the programmes are screened.

There does't seem to me to be any excuse for inaudible audio.

I’m glad I’m not the only one, this is one of my all time favourite novels, so I was quite excited to see it had been televised, but I couldn’t understand a word, gave it about ten minutes, very disappointing.

Mrswoodcutter

I thought the book was very good but couldn’t get on with the tv adaptation

I read a synopsis of the book which sounded far deeper and more complicated than the adaptation as it looked into why the Japanese behaved the way they did. I may have to watch some of it again as I got the soldiers all mixed up. I don’t particularly want to but I need some sort of closure on it. I often have to rewatch things as I struggle with plots and storylines and not being able to make out what people were saying didn’t help.The actors must have lost so much weight to portray such starving people. As iplayer tends to do when it finished it went on to show two more rather depressing films which I only half watched as I was pottering about the house at the time. I need to watch something a bit more cheerful.

Watched episode three last night. again couldn't get subtitles to work so struggled with hearing what was said. The operations in it [both with or without anaesthetic] are gruesome; I'm not usually squeamish but have to turn away. I'm glad there are only five episodes because I have to stick with it to see if I can make more sense of it. Never thought I'd see Ciaran Hinds [a favourite actor of mine] doing sex scenes at his age and feel a bit uncomfortable about that, too! I did know someone who was a Japanese prisoner of war and am trying to remember who it was. I didn't understand at the time why there was so much controversy about Hirohito's state visit all those years ago.

I thought the book was very good but couldn’t get on with the tv adaptation

Oreo

It doesn’t sound conducive to lightening the mood!😬

It's really not. I found it very upsetting, and I wasn't expecting something about POWs under the Japanese to be an easy watch.

It doesn’t sound conducive to lightening the mood!😬

Ziplok

From how you describe it MayBee70 I think I’ll give it a wide berth. It sounds awful. There’s so much violence in the real world, I have no desire to watch “entertainment” focussing on it too.

There aren’t many films or programmes that I’d advise people not to watch. Having said that I’m committed now so I’ll continue with it and let you know if it improves! I don’t mind watching films or series about prisoner of war camps, there were a couple of films a few years ago that both came out at the same time ( one with Colin Firth and one with Jack O’ Connell that were good. I don’t think I’m a prude but there’s a limit to how many sex scenes I can watch!

TerriBull

I'm glad the sub titles have been brought up, we watched the first episode and my husband said "we need the sub titles I can't follow the dialogue" Me too, I thought it was us, anyway we switched those on.

The book, which I haven't read, was a Booker prize winner I believe, and although there are no doubt going to be some scenes that I know will be distressing, I'll have to duck out when they occur, I do want to continue with it, no doubt bleak but could be worthwhile once it unfolds.

This is just me, but I have found that any book that wins the Booker prize is never worth the paper it’s written on! I avoid accredited books like the plague. They are always just hyped up rubbish! This film was awful, (the little I could stand of it) and I soon found something better to watch. Paint drying did the trick!

Thanks all. Maybee - let us know if it's worth it in the end!

I tried watching this after seeing the discussion about it. My opinion? The less said about it the better! What a load of rubbish!

From how you describe it MayBee70 I think I’ll give it a wide berth. It sounds awful. There’s so much violence in the real world, I have no desire to watch “entertainment” focussing on it too.