Lifeboat

Kovac begins as the organizing force on the lifeboat, pushing for rationing and order. His practical approach to survival highlights the harsh realities of scarcity and the effort to keep a diverse group aligned. He embodies a rational, sometimes stern, leadership style under extreme pressure.

Willi is the seemingly calm German survivor who reveals strategic cunning and mastery of deception. His English-speaking ruse and hidden motives complicate the group’s dynamics. His true identity as the U-boat captain and his ultimate fate test the survivors’ willingness to confront their enemies.

Joe acts as a steady, practical voice aboard the lifeboat, coordinating tasks and defending rational action. He disarms internal threats and pushes the group toward coordinated effort. His resolve keeps the crew focused on survival and possible rescue.

Connie is a sharp-witted journalist who navigates morale and vanity under pressure. Her photographs and observations reveal both curiosity and a propensity to seek advantage in crisis. She challenges others’ assumptions and injects a worldly perspective into the lifeboat’s micro-society.

Alice is a young British survivor carrying grief after the loss of her infant, yet she remains a stabilizing presence among the passengers. She shows quiet resilience and an ability to seek hope even in dire circumstances. Her evolving bond with Joe signals a thread of personal humanity amid chaos.

Gus is a rough-edged survivor who has been drinking seawater and experiences hallucinations as the cruise continues. His paranoia and eventual fate highlight the fragility of sanity in extreme conditions. He embodies the human cost of isolation and dehydration in the lifeboat.

Stanley is the radioman whose skepticism and practical instinct help keep the group grounded. He acts as a moral barometer, weighing actions against potential consequences. His presence underscores the diversity of wartime experience among the survivors.

Rittenhouse is a wealthy industrialist whose confidence and pragmatism come into play as tensions rise. He debates the ethics of killing or sparing an enemy, and his stance reflects a wary, utilitarian mindset. His perspective adds a counterpoint to the more idealistic or emotional responses aboard the boat.

Mrs. Higley is a young British widow whose infant has died, leaving her on the brink of despair. She represents vulnerability and fragility in the face of scarcity, and her fear drives some tense moments. Her arc highlights how grief and trauma intersect with survival duties on the lifeboat.

The German sailor pulled aboard adds a new threat and tension to the group’s cohesion. He challenges the survivors’ moral codes and trust, particularly as two wartime sides collide in a small wooden refuge. His fate remains unresolved by the film’s end, leaving questions about mercy and justice.