'Das Boot' Is a revolutionary piece of film, yes it is fictional and unrealistic at times (in regard to the capacities of the type 7) but IMO it doesn't push these boundaries too far.
It is essentially a film about war, but more importantly the human aspect - as people have said, the boredom, the grime, the immense psychological and physical pressure that men are expected to endure at the command of other men who sit behind a desk thousands of miles away. Its true greatness lies in the ability to be unbiased in this respect. Sides do not really figure, while you watch it you become one of the crew, it matters not that they are German, you understand that they are :- human men, younger or more mature and they experience all the horror and excitement of war as they work together to achieve their military goals or more often to simply survive. They fear and respect their enemies with equal measure. (which is an awesome amount on both counts)
The uncut mini-series is the best I think although the cut down versions still have the same if slightly dimmed effect. The soundtrack composed by Klaus Doldinger is truly beautiful, for me it really captures the hopes, fears, torment and despair that is equivalent to the reality of that time.
|