In All Quiet on the Western Front, 17-year-old Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his school friends enthusiastically enlist to fight for Germany in World War I. But from the moment they arrive in France, it’s clear that the grim reality of war is very different from the tales of glory and patriotism they’ve been weaned on. Somehow, all the songs and speeches forgot to mention the mud, horse carcasses and constant fear of violent death that become a part of the soldiers’ daily routine as they sacrifice thousands of lives for a few inches of land.
Directed by Edward Berger, the film has been nominated for nine Oscars, including best picture and best international feature film. But the 95th Academy Awards won’t be the first time an adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s literary classic competes for the gold.
