During WW2, the German army had prisoner-of-war camps established across occupied Europe, but only one was within a medieval castle. Colditz castle, situated on a rocky cliff over the Mulde River near Dresden, became host to escaped and high risk POWs. Colditz, a three-hour TV mini series produced in 2005 by Granada Television, explores one man's time spent in in this camp and another's shocking betrayal.

The series kicks off with two men, Cpl., Lt. Nicholas McGrade and 2nd Lt. Jack Rose, narrowly escaping from a German POW camp. German soldiers mercilessly hunt down the men, and during the pursuit Rose injures his leg, rendering him unable to escape. McGrade flees to safety under direct instruction from Rose to return home to England and find his girlfriend Lizzie, sending her Rose's love. Rose is sent to the seemingly inescapable Colditz POW camp where he spends his time with the other prisoners plotting and attempting numerous escapes. McGrade arrives safely home in England and falls in love with Lizzie, who remains loyal to Rose. McGrade fights as hard for Lizzie's affections as Rose does for his freedom, and neither man will stop until they succeed in their missions.

Colditz showcases a diverse and talented commonwealth cast. Starring as McGrade is English actor Damian Lewis, who is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Maj. Dick Winters in HBO's Band of Brothers. Lewis proves that he can play so much more than a responsible and respectable teetotaling soldier. In Colditz he portrays a brutally selfish man who knows nothing of loyalty or friendship in times of war.

Rose is brought to life by Englishman Tom Hardy whose true breakthrough roll was Eames in Christopher Nolan's Inception. Hardy gives a compelling performance of a man driven by love to overcome insurmountable odds.

Lawrence Fox, Guy Henry and Canadian actor Jason Priestly play Rose's fellow POWs, Capt. Tom Willis, Capt. Sawyer and RCAF officer Rhett Barker respectively. Veteran English actor James Fox proves as adept at acting as ever in his turn as Lt. Colonel Jimmy Fordham, the man in charge of returning escaped POWs back to England. The strong female lead is taken on by Sophia Myles whose heart wrenching performance shines through the mostly male ensemble.

Despite its long run time, Colditz easily captures viewers' attentions. The fast pace of the action and the numerous, and often humorous, escape attempts give the mini-series an engaging pace. Partly based on fact and partly fictionalized, this mini-series is not quite on the same level of Band of Brothers, but it certainly comes close.

For all the war film fans out there, Colditz is definitely worth your time. Not as graphically violent or heartbreakingly truthful as some of its predecessors, this series fits nicely into the middle ground of great WW2 stories.

Rating 3.5/5