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Product Description
This Oscar-nominated classic by Bernhard Wicki is a gripping and shocking anti-war movie. Seven schoolboys, still under-age, are drafted into the German Army during the last days of the war in April 1945. Without any training, they receive the order to defend a bridge against advancing American troops. Filled with fervor and patriotic enthusiasm, they believe that fighting for their homeland is the greatest honor. Unaware that the bridge is strategically useless and will be blown up anyway, the boys take their orders very seriously, with many paying the ultimate price.
When the pointlessness of the deaths, and their orders, is realised, they take a fatal decision. An uncompromising look at the cruelty and absurdity of war.
Review
Superbwithout question the successor to All Quiet on the Western Front --New York Mirror
Skillful and ferocious a minutely observed, almost unwatchable massacre of the innocents --Time Magazine
An intense and compelling film, notable for its cinematic sharpness and its concentrated emotional drive. --New York Times
Skillful and ferocious a minutely observed, almost unwatchable massacre of the innocents --Time Magazine
An intense and compelling film, notable for its cinematic sharpness and its concentrated emotional drive. --New York Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By R. Truscott
Format:DVD
This has to be one of the best films ever made about War in general ,but specifically to Understand the militarisation of a people living under National Socialism . It also explains how the Nazi regime glamourised the military and exploited Youth eager to display Valor in the military sense , in a group.
The detail and pathos are amazing , witness the shot of the boys on parade from above, evoking their loss of individuality as they join the war machine in its last desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable defeat.
Also impressive is the scene where the troops cascade down stairs ,one lad forgets his rifle ! Army slang is used to portray the veterans who have grown cynical. Easter bonnet for helmet , and popgun for rifle !
Each of the boys character ,stemming from their differing backgrounds, are developed with great sensitivity. There is sadly little around to compare with this ,and it is likely to be found in European cinema . These countries have the deepest understanding of the world wars from being occupied etc . I think The French film; 'A Very Long Engagement ', Has the same artistic integrity , and of course much Russian cinema ,which is little known in the west. A must for a German perspective on WW2 .
The detail and pathos are amazing , witness the shot of the boys on parade from above, evoking their loss of individuality as they join the war machine in its last desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable defeat.
Also impressive is the scene where the troops cascade down stairs ,one lad forgets his rifle ! Army slang is used to portray the veterans who have grown cynical. Easter bonnet for helmet , and popgun for rifle !
Each of the boys character ,stemming from their differing backgrounds, are developed with great sensitivity. There is sadly little around to compare with this ,and it is likely to be found in European cinema . These countries have the deepest understanding of the world wars from being occupied etc . I think The French film; 'A Very Long Engagement ', Has the same artistic integrity , and of course much Russian cinema ,which is little known in the west. A must for a German perspective on WW2 .
84 of 92 people found the following review helpful
By Bobby Smith
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
I have had a German language copy of this film for some years now and found it to be an engrossing, moving and thought stimulating movie. And that was trying to understand it using my limited O level (grade C) German!
Now that it is out in English I can't wait to get my hands on it. The battle scenes, for the time, were simply amazing and very realistic. A great film with a strong anti-war message - similar (in tone at least) to All Quiet on the Western Front. Enjoy.
Now that it is out in English I can't wait to get my hands on it. The battle scenes, for the time, were simply amazing and very realistic. A great film with a strong anti-war message - similar (in tone at least) to All Quiet on the Western Front. Enjoy.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As war films go this is up there with the best.It was made in Germany some fourteen years after WW2 using young German actors as the centrepiece of the action . It has a real feeling of authenticity that few films can achieve and you have the feeling that it would have been exactly like that in real life.The young schoolboys are told to defend a bridge for the Fatherland and do so with typical blind obedience with predictable results. It is a well made and entertaining film though a little dated now but still a good watch.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
the cause--the bloody cause
seven kids left to defend a bridge in their town that wasn't supposed to need defending--all are killed--this is a movie whereby the germans come out of their shell so to speak and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by craig s. morton
5.0 out of 5 stars
The horrors of war
Excellent film, no doubt and deserving the five stars I gave it, but I did not like it at all, it was sad, it ended as bad as it could end, lots of horrendous scenes, it was... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Graciela Syversen
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as I remember
I first saw this film in the 1960s and was suitably impressed. It provided a telling antidote to the bravura and stiff upper lip of the many Brit war films of the day. Read more
Published 4 months ago by dasbunker. carmarthen
5.0 out of 5 stars
War is no game
Young German boys want to be patriotic and defend their country. They find out that war is conducted by
grown-ups and is no fun.
An excellent movie. Highly recommended.
grown-ups and is no fun.
An excellent movie. Highly recommended.
Published 4 months ago by Boston Jack
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good film, and an interesting historical document.
A good all round (anti) war film as you would expect from post-war German producers (they don't make pro-war 'Rambo' type films in Germany any more, at least not since 1945...). Read more
Published 7 months ago by Nautilus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heh you, don't watch All Quiet On The Western Front, watch this!
Though I appreciate the saying "each to their own", I honestly cannot understand how anyone can view Lewis Milestone's 1930 'classic' All Quiet On The Western Front and call it... Read more
Published 8 months ago by The Demon Pazuzu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Candy for a wooden box
Up there with "Lord of the Flies" a film shot in a same time frame detailing how boys turn from being adolescents to killers within a day. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good anti-war film
I am reviewing the German language version with English sub-titles. I would much rather read sub-titles than endure dubbing. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Barry Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars
Here is no place for Heroïsm
This movie comes right out of the wrecked gut of WWII. It is capable of making you angry about everything related to war of what kind or root whatsoever. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Otterspoor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking war film classic
I aw this many years ago on a rare television showing, and tried to get the film for years, first on VHS, then eventually found a region 1 DVD. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mr. P. Johnson
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