Feb 07, 2007 02:37 PM
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War movies are often romanticized with triumph and glory, but The Boat explores its deepest fears, hope and the futility of war. Based on the novel by Lothar G. Buchheim, Wolfgang Peterson delivers one of the most engaging and nail-biting war dramas ever. The story revolves around 42 young men who set sail on a German U-boat to destroy allied ships on the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.
Leading the pack is Captain Henrich Lehmann, a man who’s held in high regard by the crew for his intelligence, experience, and compassion. Alongside him are Chief Engineer, Fritz Grade and 1st Lieutenant. The crew is joined by war correspondent Werner who hops aboard to write an article on the lives of men underwater. Days go by giving way to frustration amongst the crew as they endlessly wait for orders to engage in battle.
A sign of relief fills the ship when they deploy attack on allied fleets, but soon find themselves amidst fierce attacks by a British Destroyer ship. When the hunter is now being hunted, the Captain’s skills are put to test as he engages in psychological mind games. A series of cat and mouse game is engaged as the Destroyer relentlessly chases the submarine altering the crew’s ears as their eyes. When the Destroyer finally submits to defeat, the Captain, though relived shows compassion towards its surviving sailors who’re stranded at sea as he and his crew aren’t mean Nazi killing machines, but young men who were drafted into warfare for all its gloss and glory.
Just when the crew dream about heading home, the Captain receives orders to continue their mission after a refill stop for supplies in a nearby port. As the British fleets guard their new mission sail-path, the Captain comes up with a daring strategy much to the dismay of his crew. He falls short of being a tactical genius, when his calculated risk goes wrong bringing the submarine to the bottom of the ocean, causing major damages. Even amidst all the torments, he stands like a rock, unshaken by fear of death, demanding his crew for damage reports. The chief engineer puts his life behind in restoring the ship back to function, filling the men’s heart with hope, but…
Jurgen Prochnow’s outstanding performance earned him accolades from all corners of the movie industry and a much-deserved ticket to Hollywood. This edge-of-the-seat thriller was nominated for 6 Oscar nominations, making it one of the most nominated categories for a foreign language film. Exceptional work of cinematography adds splendour as the handheld camera effortlessly swings inside the submarine, making you feel you’re on board. A movie that explores heroism, duty, patriotism, hope, fear, and the most of all The Boat is a film about human spirit and endurance.
