The
title of the film Dark Blue World comes from
the name of a sad song sung at an emotional low point of the
story, which deals with the unrequited loves of two members
of the Czech air force who escaped Nazi occupation of their
homeland and served in the British air force during World
War II. The clear aim of the movie, directed by Jan Sverák,
is to honor those who served so honorably, yet were jailed
as possible traitors when they returned to a homeland occupied
by the Soviet Red Army, and there are alternative flashbacks
and fastforwards between the war experience and the incarceration.
Dark Blue World begins in 1938. After German
troops march into Czechoslovakia and occupy the country without
a shot, air force buddies Fantisek Sláma (played by
Ondrej Vetchý) and Karel Vojtisek (played by Krystof
Hádek) sneak out of their homeland to Poland, both
leaving behind girlfriends; Franti also says goodbye to his
faithful dog. Eventually, they arrive in England, where they
volunteer to serve in the Royal Air Force. Although at first
they receive Mickey Mouse training and later are mere escorts
of RAF bombers, they finally become full-fledged fighter pilots
in 1940. Between missions, Karel meets and falls in love with
Susan (played by Tara Fitzgerald), whose husband is at the
front lines. Karel's love for Susan sustains his zeal to do
his best in the air. However, Susan prefers Franti. When Karel
learns that his best friend has stolen Susan's heart, he gets
drunk, sings the song "Dark Blue World," and withdraws
his friendship from Franti. One day Franti's plane crashes
into the sea, and his life raft explodes. Karel, observing
Franti's plight and doubtless reflecting on his lost love,
inflates his own life raft, throws the life raft into the
sea near Franti, crashes his plane into the water, and dies.
On returning to England, Franti drives a car to inform Susan
of Karel's tragic death, only to discover that her husband
is back from the war, which has rendered him paraplegic. Fastforward
to Czechoslovakia in 1951, when Franti is released from prison.
He immediately heads for his girlfriend's house, where he
discovers that she has married, believing him to be dead;
although his dog recognizes him, he leaves the dog with his
wife because her two young children would not understand why
a stranger would take away what has become their pet. While
imprisoned by the Communists, a fellow inmate is Dr. Blaschke
(played by Hans-Jörg Assmann), a physician who served
with the Nazis, and some of the prison guards are former members
of the SS. When Franti tells Blaschke about Karel's broken
heart, the German says that no woman could ever provoke in
him such emotion. The anti-German theme of Dark Blue
World is underscored at other points in the film as
well. Titles at the end indicate that Czechs who served in
the Royal Air Force were released from prison in 1951, but
were neglected or ostracized for the next forty years. In
1991, after Communist rule ended, they were rehabilitated
and accorded full honors. Dark Blue World thus
celebrates not only an important chapter in Czech history
but also shows the resilience of a culture that places a high
value on human relationships, especially loyalty to friends,
and above all on the human emotion of love. MH
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