Review of Das Boot (1981) by Jason M — 14 Mar 2017

Das boot is simply the most riveting, visceral and claustrophobic anti-war movie ever made. Almost 90 % of the shots are inside an actual u boat whose space is about 10 feet by 150 feet. The camera hurtles through the narrow passages when alarms sound, settles down to study the characters up close, pans around the murky waters of the atlantic and almost makes u believe that you are the camera.

Half an hour into this very long movie, one loses sense of time and reality. The viewer becomes a silent watcher on board the sub. We forget that we are actually watching actors perform. Such is the quality of acting and direction with each sailor having his own motives, actions defined by his character and emotions that are so real .

The film sucks u in and makes u a member of the crew. The stillness, the stink of sweat and oil, the heat, u can almost feel everything. The long periods when the whole boat is silent so that the radio guy can hear the sounds on his hydro phone are nerve wracking and so tense that you almost forget to breathe.

The terrifying ping ping of the destroyer's sonar chills yourself and the crew to the bone. At 4 and half hours (original uncut edition) this film is very long and therein lies another genius. The length of the film I think is a parable to the crew's suffering of waiting for something to happen.

This is undoubtedly peterson's best film. No other sub film can ever approach the impact and the quality of das boot. Mere words can't describe such an experience. One has to see it to believe it.

I recommend ardent movie fans to watch the uncut version or atleast the director's cut (210 min). Ppl looking for an action movie stay away.