Tapferkeit
“Tapferkeit” – which means “courage” in German – is a short war film that revolves around two survivors of an intense battle in WWII. One being an American soldier and the other being a German nazi. They must face each other’s differences as they try and survive nature’s desert and its own habitants.
I was most impressed with the costuming department. It looked to be accurate and really put me in the time period. Even the props alone looked to be of the time period. The fact the filmmakers were able to get a tank and use it for filming (we don’t see it in action sadly) is impressive. I always forget how big those things are. Although it’s a bit confusing to see what side the character’s are fighting on when the battle breaks out, it soon becomes more evident as it unfolds. Perhaps that is the reality of it and it was hard to distinguish between ally and enemy.
Another thing I found interesting about this short film was its setting. I wasn’t aware there was a campaign in Africa during WWII. It added something new that I haven’t seen before. My biggest fear in a desert is having to face a scorpion. There’s something off-putting about them with the way they move and try to attack viciously. This film has a shot of one and I was reminded of how much I’d despise to be stuck in that situation (never mind the lack of water and the possibility of death from dehydration). In that sense, the danger felt real.
There are a variety of shots in this short film to admire at how beautiful they look. The way they contrast light on the soldiers faces really sell the notion that they are in an actual desert. They capture the landscape and desolation of being stuck in an open area with nothing to cover you except vehicles that hopefully can block out some bullets. The editing really moved the story forward. Especially during the battle sequences. It was fast-paced, chaotic, and the music helped intensify it during those moments. There’s little to no blood and I think the filmmakers did fine job at editing around the violence but still being an intense sequence of events.
Catch Tapferkeit at a film festival near you!
