Virginia McKenna portrays a British colonial secretary who finds herself taken prisoner and facing a struggle for survival following the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1941. Along with other women left behind, she is moved between various camps before being essentially deserted in the wilderness by their captors. Distinct from many films produced shortly after the war, this one makes an effort to present some degree of balance between those who conquered and those who were conquered. While not shying away from depicting the terrible acts committed against the prisoners, it suggests that a certain code of honor was displayed by some of the soldiers—and that these same men sometimes experienced harsh treatment from their own side due to being seen as collaborators, just like many of the women they held captive. A subdued romantic storyline emerges when she meets Australian POW Peter Finch, who assists them in obtaining food but suffers greatly for his actions. The film occasionally feels overly straightforward, though this actually enhances its emotional impact. The relentless nature and brutality of their circumstances are highlighted against the backdrop of their former lives of privilege and domestic help. Marie Lohr and Jean Anderson, whose previous performance in the acclaimed BBC series "Tenko" from the early 1980s is likely familiar to some viewers, also give noteworthy performances.

Source on TMDB