What a thrilling and artfully realized WWI epic. A deeply scary, anti-war film that beats with a heart filled with the sorrows and dreams of the millions of teenage boys sacrificed in a blood bath.

The decision to keep us in the POV and world view of one character (played by an astounding Felix Kammersr) is an effective tool that Sam Medes’ 1917 also employed a couple years back on his WWI epic but what makes All Quiet on the Western Front different is its control over emotional substance through character  development, juxtapositional to the shear cinematic craft and style. This is German new wave, political cinema disguised as a war piece. The jaw dropping, wide screen cinematography  and dynamite score should win this film Oscars, as it never overshadows its characters or ideas in this film but rather enhances it.

Watched on Netflix.