Captain Joris Kniper believes so strongly that he is "skipper next to God" that he is used to playing God on his ship. Tough and bossy, he gives orders which are not to be discussed. But, some day, he is driven to accept on board several German Jews fleeing the nazis and who are refused asylum everywhere. He gradually realizes that skipper he is, but next to God only.The Bible will help him to find the way to self-questioning, awareness and charity.
Acting
Brasseur's volcanic presence slowly cracking open.
Direction
Daquin's ship-as-microcosm tension, tight as rigging.
Director
Louis Daquin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made just six years after liberation, this French film quietly interrogates national complicity while Hollywood was still making heroic war epics. Brasseur reportedly based his posture on actual Breton ship captains he'd observed.
The ship set was built in a Paris studio tank; Daquin insisted on real North Sea weather reports piped in during shooting to maintain authentic gloom.
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