Das Boot, a War Movie to End Wars
Das Boot, a War Movie to End Wars In Wolfgang Petersen’s film “Das Boot”, takes the viewer on a trip about the horrors of what life was like inside a German U-boat during WWII. Petersen sends an anti-war message throughout the film by having a Nazi crew that’s realistic and one that the audience isn’t going to cheer for out the gate and by making the audience see a different version of war that isn’t a nonstop shoot ‘em up action movie. The film doesn’t have a lot of scenes where the audience can root for one side or the other, instead making it more realistic and when something “good” happens for the crew there’s a drawback. When the German crew is victorious and sinks the British ship, instead of happiness, sorrow and grief encompass their faces as the British crew starts swimming toward the U-boat and the Germans can’t help them. Peterson doesn’t have the Germans celebrating as they successfully sink the enemy’s ship as most movies portray. Instead this “victory” only brings them more distress, knowing that they sent a ship and it’s crew to drown in the ocean. The Germans feel grief for the ships crew being swallowed by the sea knowing that both sides are fighting for their lives in a war that they have no say in. Showing that sometimes in war there are no winners and losers only survivors. The terrors of war can be reflected by the characters actions and appearances throughout the film. Showing how war can change a person and make them mentally ill. One, of the Chief Mechanics develops an obsession with the U-boats engines. The mechanic has a full on break down and almost kills himself and the rest of the crew. Although there were no signs of this mechanic being unstable before war it seems that it’s certain that he’ll leave way worse than when he entered. Showing that when one enters war they aren’t going to be the man that saves the day. Instead, they might be the one that is accountable for comrades lost in battle and is a weak link to the chain.