The Boat Is Full
During World War II, Switzerland severely limited refugees: "Our boat is full." A train from Germany halts briefly in an isolated corner of Switzerland. Six people jump off seeking asylum: four Jews, a French child, and a German soldier. They seek temporary refuge with a couple who run a village inn. They pose as a family: the deserter as husband, Judith as his wife, an old man from Vienna as her father, his granddaughter and the French lad, whom they beg to keep silent, as their children. Judith's teenage brother poses as a soldier. The fabrication unravels through chance and the local constable's exact investigation. Whom will the Swiss allow to stay? Who gets deported?
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1942, a group of Jewish refugees attempts to escape Nazi-occupied Europe by boat. They are eventually turned away from the shores of Palestine and must find another way to survive the escalating horrors of the Holocaust. The film dramatizes the true story of the St. Louis and similar refugee crises.
Critical Reception
The Boat Is Full received critical acclaim for its powerful and somber depiction of a tragic historical event. Critics lauded its direction, performances, and unflinching portrayal of the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by those involved in the refugee crisis. It is considered a significant film in Holocaust cinema.
What Reviewers Say
- A deeply moving and disturbing historical drama.
- Highlights the complex and often cruel politics of wartime refugee policies.
- Features strong performances that convey the desperation and humanity of the refugees.
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Awards & Accolades
Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film (1982)
Fun Fact
The film is based on the true story of the SS Quanza, an actual ship carrying Jewish refugees from Austria to Palestine in 1942, which was denied entry and forced to return.
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