IN ENEMY HANDS
US, 2004, 94 minutes, Colour.
William H. Macy, Til Schweiger, Thomas Kretschmann, Scott Caan, Clark Gregg, Jeremy Sisto, Xander Berkley, Lauren Holly.
Directed by Tony Giglio.
In Enemy Hands did not get much distribution when first made. However, it took on a new life on DVD and television.
In some ways it is an old-fashioned World War Two submarine story. On the other hand, it has a sense of humanity, a fact that soldiers on all sides are human beings and share this human nature – with some optimism.
The film begins in a somewhat documentary-like fashion with information about the U-boat attacks in the Atlantic in 1943 as well as the American response. The film shows life on the submarines, both German and American. In the fights in the sea, the American submarine is taken by the Germans – and the Americans find themselves in enemy hands. When the German submarine is also hit, it has the possibility of survival only if Americans and Germans collaborate and sail towards the United States. This happens – not without some difficulties with a German attack as well as a possible American attack.
The film is in the vein of such films as Hell in the Pacific and Joyeaux Noel which highlight the common humanity.
The special effects are quite good – with footage from other submarine films including U571.
William H. Macy gives a competent performance as the chief. Scott Caan is the rather puffed up captain of the submarine. German actors Til Schweiger (Driven, King Arthur) as the captain as Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist, King Kong) are effective as the German officers. The film was directed by Tony Giglio who directed a number of small-budget films.
1.The popularity of World War Two films? Submarine films? The memories of World War Two? Sixty years afterwards? The humanity themes incorporated with the war themes?
2.The American background, on land, Travers and his wife, Sullivan and his getting orders? The transition to the submarines? The German, the American – the similarities, the attitudes of the men, their work? The commanders? The illness on board – the meningitis?
3.The atmosphere of the submarines, claustrophobic, the special effects of the attacks? The musical score?
4.The title – and the reference to the Americans taken by the Germans? The Germans dependent on the Americans? The final German imprisonment?
5.The German crew: Jonas and his integrity, as captain of the ship, the death of his children in the bombings of Hamburg, his handling of the men, his reliance on Cremer? The strategies, the attack on the Americans? Taking the prisoners? His crew, their objecting to the Americans, wanting to kill them, not having any food? The growing crisis, his decision about letting the men live? Trying to make contact, getting more food? The lack of oxygen in the submarine? The discussions with Cremer? The decision to surface? The discussions with Travers, the proposal? The collaboration of the men? The mutiny, his being stabbed, the pathos of his death? His comment about feeling proper authority and power only when he let the Americans live? Cremer, his being first watch officer, friendship with Jonas, collaboration, his criticisms, wariness about the Americans? His wanting them dead? His following the captain’s orders? The collaboration, the efforts in the submarine? The final decisions – when the Germans were attacking, to fire the torpedo, its not exploding? His surviving – and the meeting with Travers in the prison? His memories of what had happened? The other Germans, their skills, those who collaborated? Injuries, illness, death? Klause and his leading the mutiny? His death?
6.The contrast with the Americans: Randall Sullivan, his presumptions, drilling the men, not letting up? His rash? His decisions, wanting to drown, saved? With the men? His final heroism? Travers, a good man, with the men, the men’s concerns? Following orders? The drills? The abandoning of the ship, rescuing the captain? His role with the prisoners? Interactions with the Germans? The discussions about the collaboration, his leadership of the Americans, with the captain, his death? With Cremer? The other members of the team, Abers and his skills, leadership? The meningitis, the rashes, death? The dangers of infection? The personalities on the boat, the criticisms of the captain? Their capture, in handcuffs? The food? Travers urging them to eat?
7.The collaboration, the one-on-one, Klause and his leading the attack? The others and their admiration, sharing skills, sharing humanity? The decision to contact the American ship? Being cut off, the pursuit by the German submarine? Cremer’s decision to fire the torpedo?
8.The Americans, the puzzle, the rescue?
9.Travers, his relationship with his wife, the memories of her during the voyage, her helping him survive? His promise? Their visiting Cremer in the prison, the talk, Travers’ wife thinking that her husband was killed? His coming back, her gratitude?
10.A portrait of war – the images of Hitler, Nazism? The response of the allies? The ordinary men and their following the leaders? Ideologies? Common humanity – peace rather than war?
