To honour a promise. To find his sons. To make his peace.|Dec. 25, 2014|Australia | United States|112 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;War
Description: The Water Diviner (2014) is a compelling film set in 1919, just after the conclusion of World War I. The story revolves around Joshua Connor, an Australian farmer with the unique skill of water divining. Joshua faces immense personal tragedy as his three sons—Arthur, Edward, and Henry—served in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the Gallipoli campaign four years earlier and are presumed dead. Devastated by their loss, Joshua’s wife, Eliza, takes her own life out of grief. Determined to honor his family, Joshua sets out on a journey to bring his sons’ remains home and lay them to rest beside their mother.
Joshua travels to Turkey and stays at a hotel in Istanbul, managed by Ayshe, a war widow. Despite his efforts, he cannot reach Gallipoli by land. Ayshe suggests he bribes a local fisherman to take him there by boat. Upon arriving, Joshua discovers that ANZAC forces are conducting mass burials, and civilians are prohibited from the area. Major Hasan, a Turkish Army officer assisting the ANZACs, convinces Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Hughes to prioritize Joshua’s search, moved by his dedication as the only father who has traveled so far to uncover his sons’ fate.
Joshua locates the graves of Edward and Henry but begins to have dreams suggesting that Arthur may have survived the battle. Hasan recognizes Joshua’s surname and informs him that Arthur might have been taken prisoner. Joshua returns to Istanbul but struggles to find information about Arthur’s whereabouts, as many Turkish records were destroyed. Back at Ayshe’s hotel, he learns that her brother-in-law, Omer, is pressuring her to marry him. An argument ensues, and Joshua intervenes, leading to Omer and his friends attacking him. Fortunately, Sergeant Jemal, Hasan’s subordinate, steps in to stop the altercation.
The film beautifully portrays themes of loss, resilience, and the unyielding love of a father determined to fulfill his final duty to his family.
Cast director: Russell Crowe
Cast actor: Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Yılmaz Erdoğan, Cem Yılmaz, Jai Courtney, Ryan Corr, James Fraser, Ben O’Toole, Steve Bastoni, Salih Kalyon
Original name: The Water Diviner