About

U 977. Black & White. Surround Sound. Germany / Hungary. 81 min. 2026

Director & Producer: Nadine Poulain. Más Media Production Kft.

With excerpts from the book U 977 – 66 Day under Water by Heinz Schäffer

SYNOPSIS (SHORT)

U 977 is an independent documentary about the well-known German submarine that instead of surrendering at the end of World War II embarked on a transatlantic journey to Argentina. The highly formal black and white film tells a story of the unyielding human desire for freedom; being a first-hand account, it brings history exceptionally close.

SYNOPSIS (LONG)

U 977 is an independent documentary about the well-known German submarine that instead of surrendering at the end of World War II embarked on a transatlantic journey to Argentina. Due to continuing allied naval activity, the submarine spent a remarkable sixty-six days submerged, setting a world record. When it finally arrived in Mar del Plata, Argentina, after more than three and a half months, it immediately became the centre of rumours. Among other things, the submariners were accused of having helped Hitler to escape. Rather than finding freedom and a new life in South America, the men of U 977 faced years of imprisonment in the various allied countries.

In an atmosphere akin to a chamber play, three German submariners (two former machinists and one radio operator) tell their fascinating story. Throughout the black and white feature-length film, the camera stays close to the men. The use of dramatic lighting, makes them seem to be sculpted out of a black background, appearing and disappearing from and into nowhere. A dark and fairly repetitive, yet melodic sound design, reinforces the intimate, if not claustrophobic and somewhat unreal, setting of a submarine, an enclosed technical environment under water, cut off, deprived off fresh air, sunlight and sight. A further dreamlike element consists of infrared footage from a slowly drifting camera. It shows the deserted insides of a German submarine the same type as U 977. Having been constructed as a conversation between the three submariners and their already deceased commander, the film includes typed excerpts from Schäffer’s book U 977 – 66 Days under Water. Therefore, Schäffer takes on the role of narrator, who is omnipresent and distant at the same time. His book, furthermore, provides the structure of the film, as the three chapters in the film (Mission Order at the Last Hour, 66 Days under Water and Under the Southern Cross) are referencing chapters from Schäffer’s book. Other visual elements include the logbook of U 977, Grand Admiral Dönitz’s last message to the submariners (received and read out by one of the veterans in the film), as well as some archive material.

Why did the men of U 977 not surrender? What were the reasons for risking their lives with such an undertaking after the war was over? Why did they opt for Argentina? How was this profound technical und human venture of being submerged for such a long time managed? The first-hand account documentary film not only tells an adventurous and very human story – a story of the unyielding desire for freedom – it also offers a rare inside of what it must have been like to have been German submariners in the Second World War, providing the film with historic significance. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, the film does contain some humorous parts. With great vividness, the veterans recall joyous events of their surfaced journey, in particular the crossing-the-line ceremony. We also learn how to wash cloth on a submarine and hear their board song.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Heinz Schäffer, former commander of U 977, was a man with a strong personality. His unbending spirit, which is undeniably present in the story of U 977, had always fascinated me. Since Schäffer was the father of my mother, my (early deceased) grandfather, the whole matter had been an often discussed family affair. It was back in 2007, in my last year at the University of the Arts London, when I first had the idea to make a documentary film about the journey of U 977. I became deeply engaged in the subject and realized Bergen – Mar del Plata, an artistic short film evocative of U 977 as my final Master project. It would take many more years to complete the feature-length documentary.

Being soldiers, the men of U 977 were under the command of their superiors. That changed with the end of the war, at least in their view. The decision to ignore the commands of the Allies to surrender and instead risk their lives on a journey to South America in order to enter harbour of a (so they believed) neutral state is intriguing on a variety of levels. Schäffer wrote in his book U 977 – 66 Days under Water: “… we were no longer under the orders of any command, but individuals fighting for our personal freedom, for the accomplishment of our plan.”

War is an extreme situation, a cruel, yet ever-present reality of human existence. I am very grateful that the three veterans shared their memories, not only of the transatlantic journey, but also of the war with me. Having spent time with the submariners and remaining in contact with their families continues to be of immense personal value. The respect the veterans had for my grandfather was high. Heinz Schäffer not only fulfilled his duty as an able young (23 years old) commander, he also provided them with a truly exceptional experience that would resonate.

As we all know, history is written by the winners. Nevertheless, or rather, because of that, it is important to let other voices be heard as well. As my grandfather Heinz Schäffer said: “It is simply not acceptable that all the war books are solely written from the point of view of the victors and heroes.” *

*Schäffer, Heinz (1979). U 977 – 66 Days under Water. 5th edition, Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, München, p 220