Rescue Dawn (2006)

Director: Werner Herzog

Cast: Zach Grenier as Squad Leader, Marshall Bell as Admiral, Christian Bale as Dieter Dengler, Toby Huss as Spook, Pat Healy as Norman, GQ as Farkas (as Gregory J. Qaiyum), James Oliver as Jet Pilot, Brad Carr as U.S. Navy Pilot, Saichia Wongwiroj as Pathet Lao Guard, François Chau as Province Governor (as Francois Chau), Teerawat Mulvilai as Little Hitler (as Teerawat 'Ka-Ge' Mulvilai), Mr. Yuttana Muenwaja as Crazy Horse (as Yuttana Muenwaja), Kriangsak Ming-olo as Jumbo, Somkuan 'Kuan' Siroon as Nook the Rook, Chorn Solyda as Walkie Talkie

After getting shot down in Laos, Dieter Dengler is captured, tortured,
and eventually transported to a remote POW camp where he is united with
fellow American pilots with the same problem. With the arrival of
Dengler, a new spirit emerges among the group, and an escape plan soon
hatches. RESCUE DAWN is a story of struggle, friendship, keeping one's
sanity, and survival amidst a war-brewing Vietnam and its inhospitable
jungles. Werner Herzog does a great job with his direction, giving his
actors full reign as well as inspiring them to their creative peaks.
Each actor in the film does their best with each role; none becoming
too hammy or extreme in their techniques; with Bale, Zahn, and Davies
all shedding flesh as well as comfort in preparation for their tasking
roles. Great cinematography throughout, as the Laotian backdrop is
realized vividly; looming stone cliffs and walls of vine add further
quality to the prison feel, and empty fields and lush rain forest
paints the wild of Vietnam effectively. The music is excellent, and
serves the film nobly, never trying too hard for tears or pity. RESCUE
DAWN is a feel-good movie without really trying to become one, which is
where so many survival and hardship movies fail; but any imperfections
this film does have, is certainly overshadowed by its obvious technical
genius, excellent acting, and courageous story.