The service uniforms become slowly replaced with the more comfortable civilian attire from deeper in the sea bags. What were once a sea of young, idealistic faces eager for action are now sprouting unkempt beards. But, as the film progresses, you almost lose track of the time period. When we first meet the crew, they're clean shaven, wearing their dress uniforms and tearing up occupied France on leave in drunken celebration. These are the guys everybody's grandfather punched in the face on Omaha Beach, right? Who can blame anyone for thinking this at first. ![]() A first time viewer of the movie will be acutely aware that these Kriegsmarine sailors are the enemy. You'd be hard pressed to tell the 36 foot miniature model of the boat from the two 18 foot models used in the making of the film. They have held up against the test of time and still look convincing to this day. As such it relies heavily on well detailed and painstakingly created miniatures to recreate the presence of ships long scrapped or sunk. This movie was created in an era before CGI. The actors, pasty and filthy like real sailors kept out the the sun for months at a time. The blankets and clothes look constantly damp. It looks thick with the smell of grease, sweat, oil, paint, diesel fuel. The air doesn't look to be filled with movie smoke. Dials and lightbulbs seem to be full of condensation. Bulkheads look cold, heavy and coated in both grime and moisture. Nothing looks out of place, nothing looks fake. This is the interior of a Type VIIc U-boat. This movie, unlike any other submarine movie has an almost obsessive level of technical accuracy. ![]() This movie, like so few other films give you a sense that the rest of the Second World War is happening even where the camera isn't pointed. Often films leave you feeling that outside of the periphery of the camera lens, there's a studio. If you don't speak German, the correct language of the crew being spoken will add another layer of immersion instead of having to grit your teeth against hokey accents. You aren't distracted by dozens of familiar actors faces. This movie is so well shot, so well detailed, so well paced and so complete of an experience that you will immerse yourself in the environment. No other submarine movie builds the feeling of a damp, smelly and claustrophobic machine like this movie does. It takes this title because of the atmosphere it constructs. It's not because of the setting, its unique perspective or even its staggering amount of technical accuracy. This is the best submarine movie that will ever be made.
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