The Prussian novelist Erich Maria Remarque (“Shadows in Paradise”) was conscripted into the Imperial German Army during the First World War. He was sent to the trenches of the Western Front in the summer of 1917, where he was severely wounded by shrapnel. His wounds were so severe, Remarque had to be relocated back to Germany, where he would spend the rest of the war. Inspired by his experiences, Remarque penned the novel “Im Westen nichts Neues,” which translates to “In the West Nothing New.” It is known in the English-speaking world as “All Quiet on the Western Front.” The novel was a success, but was condemned by the National Socialists as “unpatriotic” and after Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor of Germany, the book and its sequel would be banned in the country.
“All Quiet on the Western Front” was adapted into a motion picture a year following its publication and it is considered one of the greatest films ever produced. Forty-nine years later, the novel would be adapted into a television film, which features veteran actor Ernest Borgnine (“Marty”) as one of the principal characters. Both the 1930 motion picture and the 1979 television film were produced in the Anglosphere with English speaking actors not speaking German while playing German characters, but the most recent adaptation of Remarque’s famous novel finally features German actors speaking German while playing German characters.
The 2022 rendition of “All Quiet on The Western Front” differs from its predecessors as the main character Paul decides to enlist three years into the war and is sent to the front towards the end of the conflict, instead of having Paul enlist early in the conflict. The film also depicts the signing of the armistice, as future Vice Chancellor Matthias Erzberger is sent to negotiate with the French. English speaking viewers might recognize that Erzberger is played by Daniel Brühl, who previously played Zemo in “Captain America: Civil War” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
The beginning of the film might confuse some viewers, as it shows a fox eating the corpse of another fox in the middle of a forest, before it transitions to the trenches of the Great War. It can be inferred that the filmmakers intended to show what the war destroyed, the French countryside being blown to oblivion and rendered uninhabitable. In spite of this, what the film does right is showing the true horrors of the war, with one character quite literally being blown to just red liquid by a French shell and another background soldier being crushed by a French tank. It may be recommended for those who are faint of heart to not watch the film, as it can be incredibly grotesque. The film is also quite filthy, showing the main character covered in dirt, debris and other sorts of rubbish.
The film is visually stunning. One thing that Netflix productions excel in are visual effects, and if it was not for the carnage and the bloodshed, the film would be incredibly beautiful. One thing that does distract from the film however, would have to be the soundtrack. The soundtrack feels reminiscent of a science fiction film such as “Blade Runner,” and it feels rather out of place for a film that takes place in the First World War.
Nevertheless, “All Quiet on the Western Front” is a recommended watch for all history buffs and movie goers. It is an honest depiction of war, and it is refreshing to see a German-language adaptation. The performances are pretty good, and it is a highly recommended watch.
Image from Netflix via YouTube
