As a film, DAKOTA didn't particularly grip me, but then I'm not an aviation enthusiast. It's a straightforward naturalistic story that at its best reminds one of the documentaries that Werner Herzog was making during the same period; it has the same attention to detail in terms of visuals and also delivers numerous shots of attractive vistas from an aerial viewpoint.
The plot itself is less impressive. This is a Dutch film about a Dutch airman who decides to attempt a Transatlantic voyage in his beloved Dakota. He interacts with various minor characters en route and encounters a fair share of problems up in the air, but other than that the film doesn't really do much. I wanted more narrative thrust and drive to the story, some purpose other than a general feeling of aimlessness. Of course, if you love planes then you're likely to have a different opinion.
The plot itself is less impressive. This is a Dutch film about a Dutch airman who decides to attempt a Transatlantic voyage in his beloved Dakota. He interacts with various minor characters en route and encounters a fair share of problems up in the air, but other than that the film doesn't really do much. I wanted more narrative thrust and drive to the story, some purpose other than a general feeling of aimlessness. Of course, if you love planes then you're likely to have a different opinion.