The Sinking of the Laconia
Drama, War & Politics • 2011 • 1h 30m
Part 1
On the 12th September 1942 the Laconia - a cruise ship turned troop ship - was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-156 commanded by Werner Hartenstein. She carried a motley crew of women, children, wounded soldiers and Italian Prisoners of War. Having sunk the ship, Hartenstein should have left them to their uncertain fate in the water, but instead he made the incredible decision to save as many lives as he could. A true story of unexpected gallantry and humanity in the fog of war.
Part 2
U-boat commander Werner Hartenstein has torpedoed the Laconia and mounted an extraordinary rescue operation. U-156's deck is crowded with Allied survivors fished out of the South Atlantic. But in the fog of war confusion reigns and U-156 is spotted by an American bomber which moves in to attack.
Cast
Reviews
I didn’t find this two-part series to be compelling viewing, and in fact it barely held my attention enough to allow me to finish watching it. I was not offended by the layered character study presented here of a German U-Boat captain who is allowed a thoughtful and human response to learning of the number of civilians on the ship he has sunk, including women and children. It does seemed out of balance with the nearly cameo appearance of the American pilots who ignore the Red Cross displayed and attack the sub. They have no qualms, no troubling doubts. I also was less than impressed with how the dialogue for the personal stories lapsed frequently into almost melodramatic cliches. It comes off to me as them trying to have it both ways, serving up both historical details and soap opera-ish interactions. The two strands of plot make for awkward dance partners.
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