The Boat Is Full

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The Boat Is Full

PG

Released Apr 25, 1981

1h 41m

Drama

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2 Reviews

75%

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250+ Ratings

During World War II, "neutral" Switzerland closed its borders to immigrants, effectively becoming a conspirator in the Holocaust. This Academy Award-nominated drama looks at that phenomenon on a human level. A group of six illegal immigrants, five Jews and one deserting Nazi soldier, cross the Swiss border during the night. They find refuge at an inn, and pose as a German family. However, village spies watch their every move, as the threat of deportation -- and certain death -- always looms.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This horrific WWII tale, the Swiss entry for the foreign-language Oscar, depicts the prejudices of Swiss villagers who sent back Jews who had escaped Hitler into their country.

Rated: B+

Sep 11, 2009

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

one of the more credible accounts of the Holocaust

Rated: B

Jun 19, 2006

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Audience Member

The movie angered me in regard to the "neutral" Swiss turning Jews and other untermenschen over to the Germans due to their status, and closing the border...Makes you think.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

Incredible foreign film that "outs" the neutrality of the Swiss during WW2.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Slow moving film from Switzerland that takes place during WWII where six people seek refuge in a village inn, much to the discomfort of the couple who runs the place. The group attempts to pose as a family, but their plans are thwarted.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

So it's almost four hours long, but it's pretty damn good.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

An optimistic film that predictably ends in tragedy. An interesting much overlooked aspect of WWII with some interesting contrasts between German and Swiss dialects.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

It's a pretty sobering film--I don't know if one can become emotionally invested in it, but it's still pretty interesting. It has a fair amount of (low-key) twists and turns, and you actually do learn a bit about Switzerland's (maybe not so neutral) stance on Jewish persecution.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Markus Imhoof

Director

Tina Engel

Judith Krueger

Martin Walz

Olaf Landau

Curt Bois

Lazar Ostrowskij

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Synopsis

During World War II, "neutral" Switzerland closed its borders to immigrants, effectively becoming a conspirator in the Holocaust. This Academy Award-nominated drama looks at that phenomenon on a human level. A group of six illegal immigrants, five Jews and one deserting Nazi soldier, cross the Swiss border during the night. They find refuge at an inn, and pose as a German family. However, village spies watch their every move, as the threat of deportation -- and certain death -- always looms.

Director: Markus Imhoof
Distributor: Quartet Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2019
Runtime: 1h 41m

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