Dark Blue World (2001)

Director Jan Sverák's Dark Blue World embraces sentimentality with such brio it is hard to resist. The film relays the little-known WWII story of Czech fighter pilots who escaped the Nazi occupation of their country to fight in Britain's Royal Air Force. Those who survived the battles were placed in work camps upon their return home by a then-entrenched, paranoid Communist regime. Sverák (Kolya) tacks back and forth between Franta (Ondrej Vetchy), a worldly captain in the defunct Czech Air Force, and Karel (Krystof Hádek), his earnest young recruit, as they leave home to fight the enemy on foreign soil. Only one returns to tell his story, from a prison hospital bed. While enduring life in the RAF with fellow Czech pilots, Franta and Karel manage to fall in love with the same woman, learn English, swing dance, recite poems, sing rousing Czech songs, and perform heroic feats. Dogfights in the air and inevitable losses ensue, but it is the genuine camaraderie evoked by a gifted cast of Czech actors that saves the film from effusive excess. Like a charismatic captain steeling his company before battle, Sverák can't resist indulging romantic clichés, but his actors, in their fresh intensity, are more than up to the task set before them. --Fionn Meade Amazon.com

Blue Dark World

This is a very well written, directed, and acted film. It is gripping, entertaining, and engaging all throughout its length. The characters are real, the fears and hopes are real, and I just really enjoyed this movie.

The film follows the course of several Czechoslovakian pilots who cannot reconcile themselves to Nazi occupation of their homeland. They relocate their squadron to England and wait out the drudgery of inactivity until they are finally called upon to fight for the allied war effort against Germany.

The film shows very good aerial combat with accurate airplane (Supermarine Mark IV Spitfires, a B25 Mitchell - though this was mainly a Pacific theater plane, Messerschmitt Me 109) depictions. There are enough closeups so to think there is an entire squadron of these vintage planes still around, and my guess is computer graphics played a large role in these scenes, but the effect comes across as quality and not cheesy.

The lives of the piolts is the main theme of the story. They love, dream, hope, and struggle to survive. Life expectancies of pilots was measured in weeks, not years. Life had to be taken on the run. This film shows all of this. Its actors are capable and portray believable characters. The irony of the love story is kind of heart wrenching at the end.

I recommend this film on many levels. It is a good romance. Not graphic and raunchy, but tasteful and affectionate. It is a good war movie. It shows a side of the war most Americans are not familiar with. Czech pilots? What are those? Anyway, I really liked this movie. September 24, 2008

Pleasantly surprised

Dark Blue world is a surprisingly good movie that is touching, tender , and bittersweet at the same time. Yes, it's war movie, But actually it is more than imbecile "War Entertainment"(sorry, but I did not like majority of so-called war movie MANUFACTURED from Hollywood . e.g Pearl Habor) It is a story of friendship and heroism that forgotten by majority of people who are directly or indirectly benefited from it.

Some viwers may think "Love Triangle" is very cliched part influenced by Hollywood,but I think differently. Unlike other cliche ridden movies, in this movie Susan is just one of the huddles Franta and Karel have to prevail, not their ultimate goal.

The last scene is very bittersweet ,but clearly conveys a glimpse of hope for Franta. Overall, well-done movie. July 31, 2008

What a wonderful movie!

I just saw this movie yesterday, and I cannot stop thinking about it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime wonderful movie. It is warm, moving, has excellent acting and even better film work. This story of Czechoslovakian pilots in World War II, and the love story woven within it, is the greatest World War II drama I have seen in years.

The scenes with the Spitfires is about as authentic as it gets. Unlike Hollywood, it is clear that the story told by this screen writer and producer was aimed at technical accuracy, as well as touching the human heart.

I can only say this- if you have not seen this movie, you absolutely MUST drop everything and see it.

January 21, 2008

A real Sleeeper

If you like WWII movies and want a little history with the entertainment, this is a great movie to watch - even with subtitles (first 1/3 of film). Wonderful photography! December 15, 2007

A technically accurate war film

The other reviwers did a good job describing the love triangle, the tragic story of the Czech pilots treatment by thier own countrymen under Communism after the war, and all the other human elements to this very human, beautifully filmed melancholy film.

But I would also like to add, for aviation buffs, particularly fans of flight sims such as Il2, this is one of the best portrayals of air combat in all it's excitement, thrill, elegance, danger and FEAR, that has ever been produced. The flight scenes are breathtaking, and unusually for films dealing with world war II aviation, very effectively bring you into the cockpit, into the clouds and both behind the guns and in their lethal path... Anyone who loves WW II fighters, flying, spitfires or warbirds in general should watch this film. February 28, 2007

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