The mission immediately goes sideways. The original US submarine is destroyed by the German U-boat, leaving the boarding party trapped aboard the enemy vessel, attempting to sail home through enemy-infested waters. Behind the Scenes: The Realism of U-571
: A crew of American sailors, led by Lieutenant Andrew Tyler (played by Matthew McConaughey), is sent aboard the outdated S-33 submarine. Their sub is disguised as a German resupply vessel to trick the U-571 crew. movie u-571
Universal Pictures defended the film, placing a disclaimer before the closing credits stating that the movie was "fictional" but "inspired by actual events". For many, this was too little, too late. Years later, the film's screenwriter, David Ayer, publicly expressed regret for the distortion. In a 2006 interview with the BBC, Ayer admitted he "did not feel good" about suggesting Americans captured the Enigma code and called it a "mercenary decision to create this parallel history in order to drive the movie for an American audience" . The mission immediately goes sideways
But the S-33’s engines coughed. The destroyers had them. The first depth charge went off close—a god-fisted punch that cracked a pipe and sent men flying. The lights flickered. Their sub is disguised as a German resupply
The film centers on the capture of the first naval Enigma machine—a breakthrough that allowed Allied codebreakers at Bletchley Park to crack the German naval codes, ultimately saving countless lives and shortening the war. In U-571 , this heroic feat is performed entirely by the United States Navy.
Directed by and released in 2000, U-571 stands as one of the most prominent submarine thrillers of the modern era. While it was a commercial success and won an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing , the film remains a lightning rod for controversy due to its loose interpretation of historical facts. Plot Summary: The High-Stakes Heist