War movies very rarely glorify war. They recognise that war is hell and they attempt to convey that to the viewer. Wolfgang Petersen's 1981 film Das Boot aims to do just that, by placing the viewer in the wretched conditions of a WWII U-Boat, a confronting experience that is as visceral as it is terrifying.
Lt. Werner (Herbert Grönemeyer) is a war correspondent who has been assigned to the crew of German U-96 submarine to document life on a U-Boat. The captain (Jürgen Prochnow) is cynical about the state of the war, and is often concerned about keeping his crew of "boys" safe. The 1st Watch Officer (Hubertus Bengsch), the German equivalent of Frank Burns, is a staunched Nazi and as such often gives the Captain flak about not doing enough to maintain discipline.
Joined by a variety of other characters (it's basically an ensemble piece), each with their own unique struggles, the crew spend a significant time attempting to attack a British envoy, with the harsh, life-threatening conditions rapidly breaking down morale. Then there's the nerve-racking approach to the Strait of Gibraltar as the men hope to return home in time for Christmas. It's one of the first genuinely sincere German war films.
From the claustrophobic conditions, the dysentery, lice, mouldy food and psychological breakdowns, to the crew singing It's a Long Way to Tipperary as they speed through choppy seas firing torpedoes at British fleets and equally getting attacked with depth-charges, Das Boot has all that you can ask for in an anti-war film. Petersen's meticulous detail brings the U-Boat (and its crew) to life as realistically as possible, with filming taking place sequentially over a year to ensure accurate beard growth and the slow, yet drastic tiring of the crew. Originally intended as a Hollywood production, I'm so glad that it wasn't, because it wouldn't be the same painfully honest interpretation that sets this film apart from the many American submarine war films.
The performances are all round fantastic, with Prochnow able to perfectly capture the worn out, pessimistic captain, and Grönemeyer seems right at home as the innocent, unaware Lt. Werner. Bengsch is able to convey the meticulous nature of the 1st Officer, almost as well as Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds, and Erwin Leder is haunting as the Chief Mechanic, who has a near mental breakdown, and is generally an interesting character. The rest of the crew - which number roughly ten other main characters and a tonne of supporting - work cohesively to portray a cold and scared U-Boat crew.
Also of note is the eerie and sometimes vicious sound design. Originally released in stereo, it has been lovingly re-mixed into a thunderous surround sound version in recent years (which I'm sure many purists would scoff at). From the booming explosions of the depth charges, to the intimidating sounds of enemy steam ships passing over the U-Boat, it's just another element that makes this film an experience.
Das Boot is able to be both realistic and humbling at the same time. Its sheer honesty and interpretation of the dismal life of a U-Boat crew is something that stays with you long after viewing.
If you get a chance to view the Directors Cut of Das Boot, I highly recommend it. It adds roughly an extra hour of squalid U-Boat action and really brings the film into epic territory. Also, if you're viewing it again and want to have a laugh, watch it with the English dub.
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