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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. Soon the pointlessness of the deaths, and their orders, is realised. An uncompromising look at the cruelty and absurdity of war. 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 notable for its cinematic sharpness and its concentrated emotional drive. (New York Times)innocents. (Time Magazine) An intense and compelling film,
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
49 of 52 people found the following review helpful
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 .
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is another fine movie to include in the pantheon of great anti war movies, my own favourites being Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory", Renoir's "La Grande Illusion", Terence Malick's "The Thin Red Line", and of course the daddy of them all Lewis Milestone's "All quiet On the Western Front", to which this film bears strong similarities. Both films are seen through the eyes of patriotic, innocent and ultimately doomed German youth. This film is a German language film, with a cast of unknowns. As in "All Quiet ...." we follow the youths through school, and have a glimpse into their home lives. They are just children with mothers and fathers that love them, and they still enjoy playing together. They have no understanding of the true bloody realities of war. In this film though they have a sympathetic teacher, who when they are called up for service pleads on their behalf, but all to no avail. The boys through a series of chance circumstances are ordered to hold a bridge against the numerically superior Americans, who are equipped with tanks. The bridge is of no strategic importance and its defence is a pointless sacrifice, much as was the whole last ditch defence of Germany.
Towards the very latter stages of the war when the allied troops were advancing through Germany, many of the German troops were made up of Hitler youth and old men. This was especially true in the final battle for Berlin. In fact equipped with a panzerfaust anti tank weapon, as one of the boys is in this film they could wreak carnage. Because they were so politically brainwashed they would often fight to the last. In the war they were just another dangerous enemy to the allies. Many young boys pointlessly sacrificed their lives in these last few months of the war. This film shows the sad waste, and the sheer horror of war brought home to young minds. It is very sad, and extremely moving. The message from this movie and the many others like it is crystal clear. War is a sad and pointless waste, but still it goes on. Perhaps if the decision makers were placed on the front line they would be a bit quicker to negotiate peace, but sadly it just doesn't happen that way!
"War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle; therefore they take boys from one village and another village, stick them into uniforms, equip them with guns, and let them loose like wild beasts against each other". Philip Bobbitt in "The Shield of Achilles".
But tragically to quote George Santayans, but often misattributed to Plato "Only the dead have seen the end of war".
Towards the very latter stages of the war when the allied troops were advancing through Germany, many of the German troops were made up of Hitler youth and old men. This was especially true in the final battle for Berlin. In fact equipped with a panzerfaust anti tank weapon, as one of the boys is in this film they could wreak carnage. Because they were so politically brainwashed they would often fight to the last. In the war they were just another dangerous enemy to the allies. Many young boys pointlessly sacrificed their lives in these last few months of the war. This film shows the sad waste, and the sheer horror of war brought home to young minds. It is very sad, and extremely moving. The message from this movie and the many others like it is crystal clear. War is a sad and pointless waste, but still it goes on. Perhaps if the decision makers were placed on the front line they would be a bit quicker to negotiate peace, but sadly it just doesn't happen that way!
"War is a quarrel between two thieves too cowardly to fight their own battle; therefore they take boys from one village and another village, stick them into uniforms, equip them with guns, and let them loose like wild beasts against each other". Philip Bobbitt in "The Shield of Achilles".
But tragically to quote George Santayans, but often misattributed to Plato "Only the dead have seen the end of war".
77 of 83 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 1 month ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
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 6 months ago by Barry Ross
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 7 months ago by J. Otterspoor
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 12 months ago by Mr. P. Johnson
Great anti-war film
A must for all interested in German films or in anti-war films. Very well depicts the small-town life just before the end of the war when kids of 15/16 were drafted. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Viv
war
not the best war film i have ever seen.a touching story of boy soildiers defending their bridge against an invading army. Read more
Published 16 months ago by baggins65
Interesting but dated
I bought this DVD on the strength of the other reviews here. Although I cannot say they were incorrect, any future buyer must be aware that the production values and dialogue are... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Titus
BUY IT !!!!!
A must for all ww2 movie fan's, the best ww2 movie i,ve seen in years. You wont be sorry so just buy it.
The Bridge (Die Brucke) [DVD] [1959]
The Bridge (Die Brucke) [DVD] [1959]
Published 24 months ago by ww2 freak
Good stuff this.
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 . Read more
Published on 6 May 2010 by Anthony B. Whittle
A German Masterpiece
I saw this film in Germany in 1961 when I was 5 years old. I lived in Cologne which by then had still many ruins and building pockmarked from shells and shrapnel. Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by Stratonautus
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