Mon, Oct 06 2008
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Published April 23, 2008 02:49 pm - WEEKENDER from April 25, 2008: “Rescue Dawn” opens with a bunch of Vietnam soldiers watching a film about how to survive if shot down over the jungles. 'Resue Dawn' tells of life as POW Video viper by Robert Lebzelter from April 25, 2008 Star Beacon “Rescue Dawn” opens with a bunch of Vietnam soldiers watching a film about how to survive if shot down over the jungles.
Their knives are their friends. Learn how to catch water in leaves and drink it. One of the soldiers offers a comedic commentary to the film, which is reminiscent of those high school health films. The story turns deadly when one laughing soldier, Lt. Dieter Dengler, is shot down over Laos and taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese. Dieter, played by Christian Bale, is tortured. He’s asked to sign a document denouncing the U.S. He refuses. At one point, he is a victim of waterboarding. A Vietnamese soldier points a gun at his head and fires, narrowly missing his ear and making him go deaf temporarily. Based on a true story, it was written and directed by Werner Herzog, best known for the epic film “Fitzcarraldo.” Soon, he becomes a prisoner of war, eating a taste-tempting diet of worms and maggots to stay alive. Dengler and his fellow prisoners fight to survive. They are shackled at night, until Dengler pilfers a nail and uses it to spring them each night. His fellow prisoners are an eclectic bunch. Concentration-camp thin Gene (played by Jeremy Davies), insists there are peace talks going and if they sit tight, the war will soon be over. There’s also Duane, played by Steve Zahn, who feels all is lost. Dengler becomes the leader of the group. He tells of being born in Germany during World War II. He decided he wanted to be a pilot after an American bombed his village and gave him a sort of look as he went by. The boy’s home may have been destroyed, but that’s when he decided to be a pilot himself. Times get tougher in the camp. The guards are getting meaner because there’s no food. Dengler decides something must be done to escape. The problem is the bigger prison is the jungle and it is unforgiving. The target date for escape is July 4, but circumstances move it to July 3. 
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