All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front

Paul Baumer and his friends Albert and Muller, egged on by romantic dreams of heroism, voluntarily enlist in the German army. Full of excitement and patriotic fervour, the boys enthusiastically march into a war they believe in. But once on the Western Front, they discover the soul-destroying horror of World War I.

  • Released: 2022-10-07
  • Runtime: 147 minutes
  • Genre: Action, Drama, War
  • Stars: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanović, Devid Striesow, Daniel Brühl, Moritz Klaus, Sebastian Hülk, Anton von Lucke, Michael Wittenborn, Luc Feit, Andreas Döhler, André Marcon, Tobias Langhoff, Adrian Grünewald, Thibault de Montalembert, Nico Ehrenteit, Wolf Danny Homann, Charles Morillon, Jakob Schmidt, Peter Sikorski, Sascha Nathan, Alexander Schuster, Michael Stange, Joe Weintraub, Daniel Kamen, Markus Tomczyk, Dominikus Weileder, Michael Pitthan
  • Director: Edward Berger
 Comments
  • proud_luddite - 29 June 2024
    A very powerful film
    In 1917, a quartet of young German friends enlist in the Imperial German Army in order to fight in World War I. One of them is Paul (Felix Kammerer), a seventeen-year old whose initial enthusiasm is lost to the realities of war. The film is based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque and two other film versions were made before it. The earlier productions were American made; the current one is German.

    This film is so emotionally powerful that it takes a long time for feelings to dissipate after its conclusion. Special praise must go to the directing (Edward Berger, also a co-screenwriter), cinematography (James Friend), music (Volker Bertelmann), and the lead performance (Kammerer). Kammerer is at his best during scenes that mix danger, tragedy and grief. There is also a touching scene when he is reading a letter addressed to his fellow soldier Kat (Alberecht Schuch) who is illiterate. There is an awkward pause before Paul reads aloud information that is very private. Further, there is a compelling scene at the film's beginning that involves a factory-like precision when preparing the soldiers' clothing. The scene involves efficiency mixed with cynicism.

    Class distinction is clearly present as the soldiers' living hell is juxtaposed with the luxuries enjoyed by those of higher rank. This is bluntly exposed during a lecture from a despicable general (Devid Striesow) who barks orders from a balcony of an elaborate residence nearing the war's end. Scenes like this expose a different war: one between Germany's elite vs. Its working class whose lives are considered dispensable.

    A couple of scenes are difficult. One is a stabbing scene that seems extremely long. Another involves foolishness when Paul and Kat return to a certain place for a second time. But in the end, this film is powerful and worthy of its great acclaim. - dbamateurcritic.
  • shbab156 - 28 March 2024
    could've been better
    Im glad they did a movie about WW1 since there aren't too many out there. The movie has one of the best war scenery and cinematography and starts with a great thriller and gruesome scenes however its full of dragged-out scenes that add nothing to the story. I also feel like this movie favors the other side while painting the Germans as the only bad guys and yes I know this is not entirely based on a true story but on a novel but still...

    i give it 8/10 could have been better to be honest. If you compare it to the movie (1917) I would say 1917 did it better and both have great cinematography..