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The Water Diviner
2014 112 min Australia, United States of America R 16+
★6.8
War, Drama
Director: Russell Crowe
Trailers
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Description
In 1919, Australian farmer Joshua Connor travels to Turkey to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. Holding on to hope, Joshua must travel across the war-torn landscape to find the truth and his own peace.
Budget:
$22.5M
US Gross:
$4.2M
Worldwide:
$15.52M
Starring
Russell Crowe
Actor
Olga Kurylenko
Actor
Jai Courtney
Actor
Awards
14 wins & 15 nominations total
Key opinion
The Water Diviner is widely recognized as a well-intentioned directorial debut by Russell Crowe, praised for its emotional weight and strong central performance. While it is lauded for its atmospheric visuals and attempt to provide a balanced perspective on post-WWI reconciliation, it faces criticism for its reliance on simplistic melodrama and inconsistent narrative depth.
| Acting | Russell Crowe delivers a powerful and emotive performance that successfully anchors the film's exploration of paternal grief and moral integrity. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes striking cinematography and rich visual textures to effectively capture both the barren Australian landscape and the vibrant atmosphere of Istanbul. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative balance is divisive; some viewers appreciate the film's focus on hope and reconciliation, while others find the script suffers from thin character development and a reliance on predictable tropes. | |
| Direction | Opinions on the directorial approach are split, with some praising Crowe's attempt at an ambitious, earnest historical drama, while critics argue the direction lacks professional polish and leans into tourist-like Orientalist clichés. | |
| Pacing | The pacing and editing are often described as jarring, with abrupt tonal shifts and a tendency to prioritize melodrama over a cohesive, steady narrative flow. |