RESCUE DAWN

Directed by: Werner Herzog Written by: Werner Herzog Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn Music by: Klaus Badelt Cinematography by: Peter Zeitlinger Editing by: Joe Bini Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Werner Herzog, director of such legendary films as AQUIREE, WRATH OF GOD, GRIZZLY MAN and THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER a man generally viewed as one of the greatest living filmmakers, is back again - and this time he's brought a kickass cast along for the ride! RESCUE DAWN returns to the subject matter of Herzog's 1997 documentary LITTLE DIETER WANTS TO FLY, German-born US citizen Dieter Dengler (played by Christian Bale) whose first mission for the US naval air force in 1955 was ended after just 40 minutes before he was shot down in Laos. Subsequently captured, subjected to cruel torture and taken to a small POW camp in the impenetrable jungle interior of mountainous Laos, Dengler refuses to let his spirits sink and devises an audacious plan to escape. The tale is a personal one, and the audience can't escape the closeness which Herzog maintains between the camera and Dengler, perhaps indicative of his own close relationship with the man prior to his death. And the focal point of the story is not the backdrop of the early stages of conflict in the region, or of the atrocities of the camp, (though these loom large at various junctures), but is rather the iunsuppressable power of one man's spirit in the face of adversity. Stuck in the small camp along with two other Americans, Gene (Jeremy Davies) and Duane (Steve Zahn) - the former driven to the point of insanity after two years internment, constantly insisting that they are constantly on the brink of release, the latter a broken man determined to keep his head down and let the time pass - Dengler starts work on a cunning plan to free them from their captors. The escape scene itself is heart-rending as the carefully laid plan crumbles in the hands of its weakened and mentally unstable executors, but nonetheless Dengler makes it out into the jungle and faces one obstacle after another as he vociferously clings to life on a desperate journey to the Thai border, never relinquishing hope that he may be found and rescued as he travels. Herzog employs all of his filmmaking savvy in the production. The jungle scenes are lush without being showing, and the camera tails Bale's Dengler throughout his ordeals without descending to the grainy, shaky 'realism' so relentlessly employed in modern Hollywood. The narrative doesn't shy away from the inevitable squeamish moments of leech attacks, grub-eating and body sores, but nor does it rely too heavily on the pitfalls, perils and pains of the journey, and therefore allows Herzog to clearly convey the positive 'essence' of Dieter Dengler that he deemed so worthy that he made two pieces from the subject matter. You can really tell that this is a man who has served his time in the school of rugged film production! And his vision is further aided by the bold casting moves. Bale pulls off another stirling performance, again utilising his remarkable talent for rapid weight-loss (though by emphasizing this I in no way intend to draw focus from his performing skills whichare stretched to the limit by engagements with rapids, snakes and creepy-crawlies), and Steve Zahn who is more often seen in far lighter roles fits surprisingly well as the meek but persistently loyal and trusting Duane, with whom Dengler enjoys a touchingly close relationship amid the turmoil. Even the prison guards, who speak no English throughout the film, add real atmosphere to the piece, each conveying exactly the idiosyncracies ascribed to them by their captives with remarkable precision. There are no hidden messages in this movie either. We won't have the undertones of moral indignatio to be found in LIONS FOR LAMBS, or the gung-ho camarederie of many a movie set in wartime, and there is no sign of partiality towards guards or prisoners. All this is not just appealing to my personal taste, but is admirable in that it stands true to Herzog's image of Dengler as a man who is there not because he wants a war, not because he's an adopted patriot, but because he's a man who wants to fly and is grateful to America for giving him that chance. A simple and puremessage which lends itself beautifully to a film of this type. All in all this film is a masterclass in filmmaking. It is a welcome sight to see a movie with a stellar cast executed with a complete lack of unnecessary ornamentation. Everything has its place, and everything its reason, and in this manner we can really feel the core of the story Herzog is telling us. Some of those who enjoy a good tale of bravery, courage and canny escapes may feel in need of a bit more action by the end, and those looking for a soppy tale won't find themseves pandered to in an account which relentlessly sticks to its core message, but this is nonetheless a quality piece of filmmaking that is well worth taking time to see.

rating: 3.5

Rescue Dawn is out in UK cinemas on 23rd November.