Watch The Boat Is Full

The Boat Is Full is a Swiss drama film from the early 1980s, directed by Markus Imhoof. It is a simple, yet deeply poignant story that follows a group of Jewish refugees during World War II as they seek asylum in Switzerland. The film provides an unvarnished look at the harsh reality of being a refugee at a time when borders were closed and people across Europe were desperately trying to find safety.

The story begins with a group of Jewish refugees who are travelling through the Alps in the hopes of finding safety in neutral Switzerland. The group includes a young couple, a soldier, an old man, and a mother with her young son. They all come from different backgrounds, but they share a common hope for a brighter future in a new land.

As they approach the border, the refugees are met by a group of Swiss officials who are hesitant to let them in. The officials are worried that allowing too many refugees into the country could provoke their neighboring powers and endanger Switzerland's neutrality. After much back-and-forth, the group is ultimately granted asylum, but it comes with a price.

The refugees are forced to live in a mountain inn, where they are constantly monitored by the Swiss authorities. They are allowed to stay there temporarily, but only until they can be sent to either the United States or Palestine, two countries that will accept them. As they wait, the refugees struggle to find meaning in their lives and to come to terms with their uncertain future.

The Boat Is Full is a powerful film that explores the complexities of human nature in the face of adversity. The refugees are portrayed as complex characters with their own unique hopes, dreams, and fears. They are not the one-dimensional victims or heroes that we often see in movies about this time period. Instead, they are real people who are desperately trying to survive in a world that is increasingly hostile to them.

The film also provides a stark look at the Swiss authorities who, while initially hesitant to allow the refugees in, ultimately decide to take them in. However, their assistance is tempered with strict monitoring and the knowledge that the refugees are only there temporarily. This illustrates the precarious position of refugees during this time period, as they were often viewed as a burden or a danger to the countries they sought asylum in.

What makes The Boat Is Full so impactful is its understated approach to the story. The cinematography is stark and beautiful, perfectly capturing the isolation and despair of the refugees as they wait and hope for a better life. The acting is superb, especially by the actors playing the refugees themselves, who convey a deep sense of longing and loss.

Overall, The Boat Is Full is a powerful and affecting film that tells an important story about the human cost of war and displacement. It serves as a reminder that, even in times of great adversity, there are moments of hope and compassion that can carry us through. The film is a testament to the power of cinema to tell important stories and to shed light on the human experience in all its complexity.

The Boat Is Full is a 1981 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.