Wednesday 3 August 2011

Of "Das Boot"

I watched the German war classic last night "Das Boot". I don't think I've ever seen a better submarine war film. It portrays brilliantly the inhuman conditions of submariners in the Second World War and the appalling risks they had to take.

The film tortures the viewers. You begin to identify with the men on board U-96. You root for them too. They are after all someone's son, brother or father and they bravely face unbearable danger in the most awful of conditions. But then you remember that they are on the side of the Nazis and the most evil political movement witnessed in centuries. I guess that's what makes this such a great war movie. It gets you asking questions. It makes you feel uncomfortable. It makes you query the purpose of war. Shouldn't we always do this when reviewing wars?



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