Das Boot (1981)

 

Without a shred of doubt: this is the quintessential submarine-film. It is also, in most other respects, an absolute masterpiece. Heck, this film lasts about 3 and a half hours and it just keeps you glued to the screen. 

I am not joking: most other films that near this mark, you can watch in sittings if you like. But this one, as soon as you pop it in, you will be absolutely enthralled. 

Wonderful work, mr Petersen. Bravo, I say. 

'Das Boot' tells the story of U-96, one of the many U-boats the German navy set out to sea in order to disrupt supply lines for the British and to pretty much strike fear in all those who set out to sea. However, this strategy did not work out as well as German high command had hoped, considering that this film also starts with the very real message that of the roughly 40,000 sailors that set out, less than 10,000 actually made it back home. 

That is some grim math, y'all.

Don't expect any glorious war heroism either. This film sets out to depict life aboard one of these cramped metal coffins as precisely as possible. At the start, the crew is attending a party and getting more than hammered, because they all know that they'll be stuck at sea for a while and that it will be no picnic. As soon as they set off on their voyage, we become so close to our characters, almost as if we are part of the crew. Everything feels claustrophobic, as the classic submarines were anything but comfortable. The camera also always stays close to everyone and moves directly behind them all. 

Most of the time, the sailors are bored, as most of their time is spent patrolling the seas and trying to find convoys, but the ocean is a pretty big place. However, when stuff goes down, it all descends into a nailbitingly tense frenzy: will they sink a ship, or will the many destroyers find them out and sink them? 

The buildup and structure of the film is absolutely enthralling. Most of the runtime, we spend with our protagonists as they do their menial tasks aboard. It is slow, sometimes dull and it lets the actors think about their lives and they often question a lot of things, not in the least the logic of their orders and the fact that the military leaders often talk out of their hats, as they are not familiar with how things are out in the field. Or in this case: ocean. It is in these scenes especially that you come to realize that all sides in a conflict are just expendable people, neighbours, friends, family. They just get used by whomever is in charge for whichever reason. In this film, you can clearly feel this, as here most of the crew are pretty young. The captain is known as 'Der Alte', but he is probably just in his 30s. 

But not all of the film is slow. As soon as trouble starts, it becomes frenetic, as it would be in real life. Lots of noise, shouting and chaos interspersed with moments of extreme tension and the chilling wait for the depth charges to either hit or miss and for the destroyers to either find them or go away. There are no heroics or ballsy moves here, just a rollercoaster of a cat-and-mouse game, even if it sometimes switches who is seen as the mouse. The bleak final run through the Strait of Gibraltar leads them into their darkest moment, but that is not all. Hell, it all culminates in what is one of the darkest endings you will ever see and it is one that not only hits home, but also one that is completely and utterly realistic. 

So no huzzahs or hoorays at the end, but you will have seen a brilliant film that slowly sucks you in until you have become part of it all and it will have you by the proverbial balls for the entirety of the cinematic adventure. 

This, ladies and gentlemen, is with good reason hailed as one of the best films ever made.