Director Werner Herzog has been so inspired by the story of pilot Dieter Dengler that he has made two films about the true story — the 1997 documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY and now this dramatization starring Christian Bale as Dieter. The new film is a simple story of perseverance and survival. Lt. Dieter Dengler was German born and immigrated to the U.S. for the sole purpose of being able to fly jets. He never lost sight of that when his plane was shot down over Laos, was taken prisoner and struggled to survive in the jungle.
Bale plays Denglar with a matter of fact optimism, as if there were no other alternative. After enduring torture, the man still thinks first of escaping the jungle-based prison he is taken to. There he meets other soldiers whose hope has vanished after being incarcerated, starved and abused for more than a year. Duane Martin (Steve Zahn, HAPPY, TEXAS) is one of those soldiers, who only wishes to keep his head down and endure. The slight crazed Gene McBroom (Jeremy Davies, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) is vehemently convinced that a full-fledged war will not break out and that they will be let go soon. However, with the bombings of Laos still classified as top secret, there are not rescue parties coming.
When is comes to war, this film has no agenda for or against. It doesn't even take a stand on the secret bombings leaving Dieter stranded. The purpose is a simple tribute to the human spirit. Dieter's determination is inspiring. Even when they are fed worms, he doesn't lose focus of the ultimate goal of escape. His attitude and his strategy rallies the other prisoners around his cause. Knowing that Dieter survived from the Herzog's documentary, the ordeal and the lives of the other soldiers provide dramatic tension to the story. The prison camp is a terrible place, but as Dieter is told the bamboo fences are not the prison, it's the jungle, where various dangers could quickly take the life of an escapee.
With solid supporting work from Zahn and Davies (who with every performance seems to be lobbying to play Charlie Manson), Bale is the heart of the film's success. Once again, the determined actor makes a physical transformation over the course of the film, losing weight and ending the film virtually skin and bones. Subtly, this kind of dedication from a performer works on the viewer and makes us believe even more. It's easy for the fit Dieter to be optimistic, but when the emaciated Dieter is undeterred he cannot be written off. If there is any additional message to be taken from this film it's that joining the military doesn't inherently make you a violent person or political. Some soldiers are only victims of violence and politics, when all they want is to do what they love, whatever that may be
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
