Language: German
Director: Edward Berger
Writers: Edward Berger ,Ian Stokell, Lesley Paterson
Cast: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl
Genre : Action | Drama | War
Imdb: All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Streaming on Netflix.
Also known as: Im Westen nichts Neues (2022) [Original Title]
Spoiler Alert: This review contains slight spoilers regarding the nature and characters of the film.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) is a German epic anti-war film based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. Directed by Edward Berger, it is set during World War-1. The movie starts showing with a clear picture of how the youth is dragged into the German army and how they willingly join with utmost enthusiasm.
The whole story revolves around the character Paul Baumer and his friends who enlist in the army, how it turns out when they go to the battlefield, the realisation of ultimate toughness and horrific bloodshed everywhere making them wrestle with fear and death from day one. Meanwhile, Erzberger and the German delegation are trying to negotiate a cease-fire and on November 11, Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch gives the Germans 72 hours to accept the non-negotiable Allied terms. The very next day Erzberger’s delegation signs an armistice (a truce) set to take effect at 11:00 AM. But the ultimate war doesn’t seem like ending, Friedrichs who wants to end the war with a German victory orders an attack at 10:45 AM. Paul Baumer and the rest of his comrades go back to fight even though they knew they can’t do it anymore but orders from the top tend to do. Who knows what will happen within that 15 minutes…
Everything about the war is detailed and framed outstandingly here, and a brilliant cinematic experience could be seen in each frame. The music and score are brilliantly handled and this gives an extreme level of curiosity about what will pan out next. Every artist in this movie gives irreplaceable performances.
Verdict: 6/7 stars
Brilliant.
Trivia
Erich Maria Remarque’s book was inspired by his own experiences as a German soldier in World War I. It is notable for its realistic depiction of the horrors of battle, and the trouble soldiers face during and even after the fighting.
This is also said to be the most expensive German film in the history of Netflix.
Official submission of Germany for the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category of the 95th Academy Awards in 2023.
Director Edward Berger chose Marek Svitek to train the acting team on the clashes and shooting scenes. They were training in military simulation using real firearms.
