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All Quiet on the Western Front is a mesmerizing and chilling depiction of warfare and a haunting portrayal of the human condition. Based on the 1929 novel of the same name, a group of classmates enthusiastically enlist in the army to serve their homeland after war breaks out in 1917 Germany. Once they set foot on the battlefield, a heavy dose of reality settles in as these young men are given a rude awakening. What soon follows is a sobering examination of the brutality of war and its many facets, from the action on the front to the negotiations by superiors in government. Their romanticized view of patriotism and heroism is quickly subverted as the bullets start whizzing by while their fellow soldiers begin to fall, enduring both physical and mental wounds. As long as peace treaty deals persist without resolution, the fighting inevitably ensues as countless men will lose their lives for the foreseeable future. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh and unforgiving world they inhabit, staring down the barrel of their own mortality while showcasing how demoralizing and dehumanizing the whole process is.

As the title suggests, there are beautiful moments of silence and tranquility where they are able to catch their breath, making room for small talk and camaraderie amid the turmoil. You’re thrown deep into the trenches as they fend off incoming enemy waves, covered by the mud and dirt baked in the terrain. The sounds of guns firing, tanks rolling across the front, and the cries of men as they traverse the land evoke an aura of horror, akin to a frightening fever dream that they cannot wake up from. In many respects, they are lambs for the slaughter, only to have their tags ripped from the necks of their dead bodies, stripped of their uniforms, and finally have those blood soaked garments washed and patched back together for the next round of wide eyed recruits called to action. It will leave you pondering whether or not the prospects of pride and notoriety for returning a hero outweighs the hardship and suffering sustained. Overall, a powerful German anti-war film that explores all aspects of the conflict with stunning craftsmanship and visceral execution, a harrowing tale of how war will leave you different than when it found you.

High Recommendation

◀️ The Good Nurse
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