WAR SAILOR (KRIGSEILEREN) (2022) – TV Series (3 Parts) – Absorbing
In his six-volume autobiography, Winston Churchill said that the one thing that caused him maximum anxiety THROUGHOUT THE WAR was The Battle of the Atlantic. This was the battle by merchant ships, escorted by the British (and, after 1942, American) Navy, to bring supplies to Britain, to continue the war. These supplies came from all over the world and consisted of essentials like food, clothing, oil and raw materials necessary for the war effort. These civilian ships were first attacked by surface raiders and U Boats (submarines) that had to undertake a long passage from Germany via neutral Norway’s coast and into the Atlantic. But once France was conquered in 1940, U-boat bases on the Atlantic coast meant more time for the U Boats to spend on patrol and hunt down the ship convoys. This period from June 1940 till mid-1941 was known as “Happy Time’ by the U-boat crews due to the increased sinkings of Allied shipping.
War Sailor tells one such story of a Norwegian sailor Alfred “Freddy” (Kristoffer Joner), who signs up as a cook along with his friend Sigbjorn (Pal Sverre Hagen). Freddy’s wife Cecilia (Ine Marie Wilman) knows it’s dangerous but steady work while his polio-stricken daughter Maggie screams against his joining on such a hazardous duty. Freddy contends that since Norway is neutral in 1939, there is nothing to worry about, and he starts sailing on the civilian ships. By June 1940, Norway, France, Belgium and Holland are occupied by Germany. Freddy can’t return home and has to continue sailing. He picks up a fifteen-year-old boy Aksel Andersen (Leon Tobias Sletbakk), who was torpedoed from another ship and starts treating him as an apprentice and son.
Within two years, Aksel turns sixteen and is an adult, and their bond grows. In Norway, Cecilia and the family struggle to make ends meet under German occupation. The years roll by, and the tide of the war changes but not before Freddy sees ship after ship being sunk around him. Soon it is the turn of his ship to be torpedoed. He, Sigbjorn, Aksel and one more troublemaker board a makeshift raft.
Aksel is wounded and bleeds to death. The troublemaker is sent to a watery grave after a bloody fight. They are rescued after a few days. In Norway, Cecilia gets the news that Freddy’s ship has been sunk. The school where her children are studying is accidentally bombed by British planes. The rescued Freddy receives the notice that his family has been killed in the air raid. He leaves the port and vanishes. The war ends. Sigbjorn returns to Norway, soon learns that Freddy is alive, and sets out to search for him …
There are many films about the military actions of the Atlantic. Be it about U Boats destroying merchant marine or Anti-submarine warfare by destroyers (see earlier post The Enemy Below http://rammesh.co.in/the-enemy-below-1957-a-fascinating-battle-between-men-or-machines/). But there are very few about merchant marine vessels and their civilian sailors and what happened to them. Being torpedoed in the freezing waters of the choppy and violent Atlantic was a surefire recipe for death. The hazards of crossing the Atlantic while handling dangerous cargo also meant death was always hovering around.
Like many such people involved in hazardous professions, the sailors don’t think of it and instead say fatalistically, “At least it will be quick”. “I want to go out in one big explosion that I won’t even know”. However, when it comes to surviving the frigid waters, it is always every man for himself, as seen in the initial scenes where the survivors fight for the slung ropes and the life rafts.
All these and more are shown in meticulous detail in the three-part series, which is surely a composite of many stories from survivors. One of the most harrowing scenes is Akel’s death on a life raft. His loud screams slowly become soft whines, whimpers, and finally, silence. This is even after being helped by the German sub that has just sunk them. A U Boat helping survivors is not an entirely cinematic device. Historical evidence shows that U-boats that helped and/or machine-gunned survivors were in equal numbers. So this scene is one of the most authentic scenes in the film. (There was also an unwritten rule about not helping survivors, which many U Boat captains ignored while fanatical Nazi captains machine-gunned the survivors).
All said, the series is utterly absorbing once it gets going. However, some sections seem too melodramatic – especially the husband and wife believing the other is dead. It also seems a bit strange that Sigbjorn, who has undergone the same amount of trauma as Freddy, is still unaffected by the events while Freddy has all sorts of post-traumatic stress, as was common with many war survivors. Another glitch in the series in that through the voyages, the crew are lightly clad, whereas the North Atlantic was constantly freezing cold. Despite these minor glitches, this three-part mini-series makes for compelling viewing. ( I binge-watched the three parts in one go ) .
The special effects are superb for such a series spread over the entire duration of the war and with both Freddy and Sigjorn involved in some of the most crucial convoy actions. E.g., Freddy and Sigbjorn land in Malta, bringing much-needed relief in 1942. This was the famous Operation Pedestal, where 9 out of 14 merchant ships were sunk, despite a heavy escort of destroyers and other warships. When Freddy and Sigbjron land in Malta, we can see the torn prow of the tanker Ohio with its precious cargo of fuel, which is superbly recreated by CGI. (Real photo of the SS Ohio as below )
In sum, this is an excellent series with outstanding performances. A title card at the end says that one in nine Norwegian merchant marine sailors died in a watery grave.
It is available on Netflix.
Real History/ Historical background – 4 out of 5
Equipment and Kit – 4 out of 5
Locations or substitutes – 4 out of 5
Role of women – 4 out of 5
Script – 4 out of 5
Overall Rating – 4 out of 5