The story told in "The Captain" really stretches credulity and yet it's true. Worth watching for a different angle on WW2. Great performance by Max Hubacher in the lead role. Maybe that's the effectiveness of the film: by the time you reach the critical moments you've become desensitised to all the killing, anarchy and atrocities. Everything just seems to happen, sometimes as if in slow motion. It could also have been more powerful: despite the events portrayed it really didn't feel that gritty or shocking. Plot is reasonably engaging, though a bit too drawn out.
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Also covers areas of WW2 that don't get much attention: the post-apocalyptic-like final days of Nazi Germany, the treatment of deserters etc and this series of events in particular. Quite novel in that it doesn't involve any confrontation with the enemy (well, except for one scene): the struggle is all internal. Interesting WW2 drama, based on a true story. Things come to a head when he is given responsibility for a camp where deserters, looters etc are detained, with dire consequences. Impersonating a captain he gathers together a rag tag group who assume the role of an anti-deserter/looter task force. One deserter, Willi Herold, is on the run when he comes across the abandoned uniform of a Luftwaffe captain.
WW2 in Europe is almost over, resulting in mass desertions and disorder in German ranks. Set in Germany during April 1945, this blend of docudrama and black comedy is a collaboration of German, Poland and France, and as a true story, packs quite a punch. The elder Ballhaus passed away in 2017, and the son continues to build his own legacy. Filmed in stark black and white, it offers some beautiful shots from cinematographer Florian Ballhaus (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA), the son of famed cinematographer and 3 time Oscar nominee Michael Ballhaus (GANGS OF NEW YORK). It could have been a stellar short film, but director Schwentke uses the slow pace to allow our shock to grow as Herold evolves into a coy monster (with a fine performance from Mr. The film moves at a meticulous pace and at times feels redundant. We witness as some blindly follow orders, and we watch (dumbfounded) as Herold's thirst for power overtakes whatever integrity he might have had prior to the desperation injected by war. Herold first employs his newfound power as a survival strategy, but he is soon corrupted by the power of his assumed position. While this is a stunning story ripped from historical documents, the film works even better as a psychological character study.
Herold has convinced those in charge that he has direct orders from Hitler to take command of the camp, and a horrific massacre of prisoners takes place over the next few days. a camp containing German deserters and looters. The ragtag group ends up at prison camp Aschendorfermoor. Circumstances result in "Captain" Herold gaining followers, each of whom are as lost or unwilling to continue fighting as himself. We are left to wonder what happened to the officer, but do get to watch Willi's crazy next few days as he impersonates a German officer and assumes command of his situation.
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Things change drastically for Herold when he stumbles on an abandoned suitcase neatly packed with a German Captain's coat and full uniform. Max Hubacher stars as Willi Herold, the soldier we are to assume has deserted his military outfit and is now dirty, hungry and cold as he evades German patrols. The soldier manages to escape, kicking off an incredible journey that we are informed occurred during the final two weeks of the war (April 1945). Writer/director Robert Schwentke (RED, FLIGHTPLAN) abruptly opens his latest with a single soldier desperately running from a posse of Nazi soldiers who appear to be hunting him down. It's mind-boggling how many fascinating stories - both large and small - continue to come from World War II, even 75 years later.
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