The Bridge on the River Kwai

In 1943, a group of British prisoners of war led by the principled Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) arrive at a Japanese prison camp where they are ordered to build a railway bridge over the River Kwai. When the harsh Japanese commandant demands that all prisoners, including officers, work on the bridge, Nicholson refuses, leading to a brutal standoff between the two officers.

After enduring punishment, Nicholson agrees to oversee the bridge’s construction, but becomes so obsessed with building a perfect structure to prove British ingenuity that he loses sight of whose cause he’s actually serving. Meanwhile, an American is recruited by British commandos for a dangerous mission: to destroy the very bridge Nicholson is so proudly building.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is an epic war drama exploring how virtues like duty and dedication to principle can become corrupted by pride when we lose perspective. Though rated PG, this classic does contain some mild violence is likely best suited for older children and teens who can better appreciate its complex moral questions.

Runtime: 2 hours, 41 minutes
Rated PG
USCCB rating: A-I
96% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
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