American pilot Dieter Dengler is shot down during a top secret mission to destroy Viet Cong strongholds in Laos at the beginning of the Vietnam War. Taken hostage, he endures unimaginable conditions at the hands of cruel captors in a makeshift POW camp. Dengler's iron will to survive guides him and his fellow prisoners in a meticulously-planned, death-defying escape, only to discover the harsh realities of an unforgiving jungle beyond the camp's walls.
Rescue Dawn, written and directed by Werner Herzog is based on a documentary written by Herzog called Little Dieter Needs to Fly. The film, based on a true story of German born Dieter Dengler who dreamed of being a pilot, finds his way to the US, and ends up joining the navy during the Vietnam War era. This is a tale of survival, dignity in hard times, and persistance amidst hopelessness.
The story begins with Dengler, now a navy pilot going out on a secret bombing mission. While on this mission, he is shot down over Laos, and crashes in the jungle. Though he survives the crash, he is quickly pursued, and his efforts to keep from being captured are ultimately unsuccessful. Once captured, he is tortured and placed in a prison camp in the middle of the jungle. In the camp, he meets other American soldiers who have been held there for years. Not long after his arrival, he immediately begins to plan his escape.
The 1080p AVC high bit rate-encoded video is excellent. The opening sequence appears to be documentary footage, and is therefore inconsistent with the quality of the film in general. Colors are well saturated, stunning in dynamics and punch with jungle foliage having subtle gradients of green and brown just brimming with detail. Even in dark scenes there is plenty of detail within the jungle and camp to be seen. Black levels are excellent, contrast right on target, and sometimes there is the occasional softness that appears to be some filtering or tweaking of the source itself.
Audio is delivered via DTS MA lossless audio, but I was only able to access core DTS track at 1.5mbps. This film is basically dialog driven, and as such you wouldn't expect much in terms of sonic fireworks. However, there were plenty of sonic surprises in the form of consistent, subtle jungle ambiance. The sounds of crickets and small insects were all over the sound field including in-between speakers, in front, and behind them. Much of the action in the movie is pretty subdued, mix wise, and even the score gets out of the way of the story-line. Dialog is always intelligible even when whispered. Only occasionally did dialog venture away from a natural tone. This mix served the story exceptionally well.
The following extras are included on disc: A audio commentary by director Werner Herzog and interviewer Norman Hill, 7 deleted scenes with optional commentary, a 53 minute 5 part making of, and a interactive, limited exploration of the Vietnam memorial which is very well done. Also 8 minutes of interview footage with Vietnam war vets, a pop up HD theatrical trailer and a HD quality photo gallery.
I really enjoyed this movie a lot, though this might not be one you visit again. The film vividly and painfully recreates the brutal ordeal of surviving in a POW camp, where any day could be your last. The acting by the entire cast is top notch. Their dedication to their roles is aptly demonstrated by the massive weight loss each had to endure to create authenticity. Zahn is a stand out among the supporting cast playing a man with a broken spirit that is renewed by his friendship with Dengler. I highly recommend this movie for its outstanding acting and excellent story line.
All countries
United States
