History vs. The Movies – The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai  Is One of the Greatest World War II Movies. Is It Accurate?

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a masterpiece of filmmaking. The story concerns British soldiers, captured by the Japanese during the second world war, being ordered to build a bridge to connect a vital railway link to help the Japanese army . The British commanding officer at first resisted, but then decided that it would be good for his men’s morale to help build a bridge that would last forever. Meanwhile, a guerrilla team led by an American Navy man who had been held in the camp and then escaped, track their way through a thick jungle in order to try and destroy the bridge.

The film is based on a book  that purported to tell the true story. When the movie premiered, surviving members of the British POW  contingent that built the actual bridge bitterly contested this story. In the movie for action, the British commander is seen as collaborating with the Japanese commanding officer and ordering that the bridge be built to the highest possible specifications. While there is no denying  that the movie is brilliantly acted, perfectly written and filmed in a memorable style, many questions continue to remain about whether it tells the true story.

In this fast and fascinating multimedia presentation, we will compare the historical events with the cinematic portrayal. This mesmerizing story is not to be missed.