Das Boot (1981)
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A harrowing portrayal of the claustrophobic and perilous life of a German submarine crew during World War II.
The story
Set during World War II, the film follows the crew of the U-96 as they embark on a hazardous patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic. The narrative explores the psychological toll of submarine warfare, highlighting the contrast between the intense excitement of combat and the grueling monotony of the hunt. The story focuses on the men as ordinary individuals striving to survive and perform their duties for their comrades and country while navigating the dangers of the sea.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In October 1941, war correspondent Leutnant Werner joins the crew of the U-96. The crew, a mix of seasoned veterans and inexperienced newcomers, faces the harsh realities of submarine life. After enduring North Atlantic gales and engaging in several skirmishes, they successfully sink several ships but are forced to dive below their rated depth. Following a stop in Spain to resupply, they face a perilous passage through the Strait of Gibraltar. After being damaged by a plane and sinking to the seabed, the crew survives a desperate underwater ordeal. They eventually reach La Rochelle on Christmas Eve, where the final moments of the voyage are marked by the loss of several crew members and the death of the captain.
- First release year
- 1981
- Runtime (minutes)
- 149
- Production countries
- West Germany
- Original languages
- German
- Directors
- Wolfgang Petersen
- Writers
- Wolfgang Petersen · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jürgen Prochnow · the Captain; Herbert Grönemeyer · Leutnant Werner; Klaus Wennemann · chief engineer; Hubertus Bengsch · first watch officer; Martin Semmelrogge · second watch officer; Bernd Tauber · Kriechbaum; Erwin Leder · Johann; Martin May · Ullmann
- Genres
- war; drama
- Themes
- war; brotherhood; claustrophobia
- Tone and mood
- tense; realistic
- Premise and plot tags
- military; historical; submarine
- Source material / true-story basis
- Lothar-Günther Buchheim's 1973 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name
- Content notes
- war
- Reception
- The film received highly positive reviews and is considered one of the greatest German films, noted for its realism and tension.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 9.10 · scale: 10 · review count: 55; Metacritic · score: 85 · scale: 100 · review count: 16
- Awards and nominations
- German Film Award · Best Film · won
- Production trivia
- One of the most expensive films in German cinema at the time.; The film was shot 'silent' because dialogue would have been drowned out by the gyroscopes.; The actors were forbidden to go out in sunlight to create a realistic pallor.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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