Das Boot (1981)
Do we care about the other side of WWII?
Presentation:
There are World War II films, U-boat films and then there’s this one. Films about World War II are almost always from the perspective of the Allied powers, not because they won, but because who wants to root for the Nazis? Well in this film, our protagonists are German Nazis, which is a tough pill to swallow I’d imagine for most. Tonally it’s on the fence. On one hand the film is celebratory of Germany, but also critical of Hitler and higher commanding officers. It also presents caricatures of overzealous Nazi patriots. One thing is for certain, the film does succeed in humanizing the German soldiers. It’s half suggested that they are drunkards that don’t know better but also brainwashed to destroy the British. Political messaging aside, the film reminds me of James Cameron’s work for its production value and spectacle. The claustrophobia of the submarine is tangible and remains a wonder how the camera was able to operate in such tight spaces. There are also some moral and emotional moments, which were a pleasant surprise to what feels like an action motivated film at times. The film over-emphasizes the presentation and lacks character development. It’s also far too long at over 3 hours of mostly listening to sonar and repeating coordinates. Is it tense? Probably, but I prefer to watch a film rather than a U-boat simulator.
Conclusion:
Even though it’s an anti-war film, in the end it’s pro German, so I’d wager you have to be a mature filmgoer to appreciate this. In 2025 it’s not easy to divorce politics and humanity and I have a feeling most won’t appreciate what will likely be labeled as Nazi propaganda. For me, I just found it hard to care about the main characters because of their mission and lack of development. We basically root for them just because we see some photos of their wives and find them to be relatable in doubting the war? It’s not impossible, it was accomplished in All Quiet on the Western Front. This feels like a great film, but I didn’t connect with it at all. Technically brilliant for 1981 too, just wish there was more story to anchor onto.
Recommendations
Is it better to suffer injustice than do it?