MOVIE REVIEW: Rescue Dawn

07/13/07

How would you feel if you loved flying so much that you would join the military during the Vietnam war, become a fighter pilot and on your first top secret mission you get shot down, captured by the enemy, belittled, tortured, dragged around like a rag doll, shot at, and starved for months? I imagine most would feel destroyed and hopeless. Well, not Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale). He has got to be the most up-beat
POW I’ve ever seen or heard of. In the midst of all that mentioned above, his determination did not falter. This film is as amazing as Dieter himself who was able to pull off one of the most incredible escape and
rescues of modern history. The story is brought to the screen in such a way that Dieter himself would be proud. It is a powerful, penetrating, and realistic work of art in its simplest form without all the shock-factors.

Dieter Dengler is the only American to ever escape from a POW camp in the Laotian jungle. He planned his getaway for months and even after he succeeded in escaping the prison camp, he still had to deal with a
fierce jungle. Even after getting passed that obstacle and being rescued, Dieter showed no bitterness. He remained up-beat with the strongest will to survive you’ll ever see. Christian Bale was given the
demanding honor of playing the role of Dieter. He latched on to the soul of Dieter and accurately portrayed this American hero. Wonderfully impressive as well were Steve Zhan (Duane) and Jeremy Davies (Gene).
They play two other American POWs at the same camp that Dieter is taken to. I am so impressed by actors that change their own physique in extreme ways in order to play a role. These three actors did just that. They had an effective skin and bones look. Their sacrifice did not go unnoticed. Skinny Jeremy makes skinny Tom Hanks from Castaway look like Tom Hanks from Saving Private Ryan (a movie that Jeremy
also worked in by the way). Just as effective as their physical appearance were their performances: authentic and believable.

This movie was filmed in a remote area of Thailand, known for its precious, thick jungle and rocky hills. The views were breathtaking but underappreciated during the film due to the nature of the story. It is sad how war taints such a picturesque landscape. It was also filmed naturally without special effects or tricks. Blood and gore shock-factor elements that could easily have been exploited with this kind of tale, were not. Both Priscilla and I think that’s a plus. It was also interesting how the music in the film matched the mental state of the characters at various moments.

Director Werner Herzog (GRIZZLY MAN, FITZCARROLDO) has successfully told the story of his friend, Dieter Dengler, on the big screen. Both suffered childhood oppression in different areas of post
World War II Germany. It is ironic that Dieter survived Allied bombing during World War II to later become a Navy pilot and a POW for one of those Allies during the Vietnam War. Herzog says of Dieter: “Dieter Dengler embodied everything I love about America: courage, perseverance, optimism, self-reliance, frontier spirit, loyalty and joy of life. He was the quintessential immigrant into America – a young
man who arrived with a great dream and came to represent the best of the American spirit.” These are the kind of men that make this country great.

“I love America because America gave me wings.”
-- Dieter Dengler

Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com

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