Review of Das Boot (1981) by Michael L — 22 Oct 2012

Often touted as a truly authentic cinematic portrayal of war, it is here that Wolfgang Petersen captures, with gripping effect, an extraordinary fictional story of the U-96 and its forty man crew. Historically, many cinematic works in this genre have displayed themes of jingoism and heroism, but 'Das Boot' succeeds in stripping away such elements, and focuses entirely on the human individuals involved in the Second World War.

Indeed, even though the crew of the U-96 are serviceman of the German navy, they are portrayed as men simply following orders, and doing so for their comrades, as opposed to any ardent ideological beliefs.

This becomes its greatest accomplishment, and so when the crew are faced with extreme boredom and anxiety, combating an unseen enemy transcends into a intensely desperate struggle for survival. All this is captured through Petersen's breathtaking directing, of which displays to great personal effect, every hardship and challenge that the crew faces daily, as well as during the climactic final act of their story.

This is a portrayal of war that simply has to be experienced, not to just appreciate the commitment of servicemen to their comrades, but to understand that war is never fought by opposing governments and ideologies, but by human beings.