The Sinking of the Laconia

Overview:

The true story of the Allied ship Laconia, sunk in WWII by a German U-Boat, which then surfaced against orders to rescue the civilian crew

Created by:

Status:

Ended

Language:

English

First air date:

1/6/2011

Last air date:

1/7/2011

Key words:

world war ii
historical
naval combat
1940s
untergang
war
modern warfare
modern history

Seasons

Specials

2 Episodes

Miniseries

2 Episodes

Cast

Franka Potente

~ as ~

Hilda Smith

Ken Duken

~ as ~

Werner Hartenstein

Jacob Matschenz

~ as ~

Mannesmann

Stefan Rudolf

~ as ~

Remmert

Matthias Koeberlin

~ as ~

Rostau

Frederick Lau

~ as ~

Fiedler

Andrew Buchan

~ as ~

Thomas Mortimer

Lindsay Duncan

~ as ~

Elisabeth Fullwood

Thomas Kretschmann

~ as ~

Karl Dönitz

Jodi Balfour

~ as ~

Sarah Fullwood

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Peter McGinn
Written 3 year(s) ago
6
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.