All Quiet on the Western Front
NETFLIXAll Quiet on the Western Front, directed by Edward Berge, encapsulates the horrors and harsh realities of World War 1 through a visually thrilling lens. Adapted from Erich Maria Remarque’s acclaimed 1929 novel, this film takes a closer look at the futility of war amongst its harsher truths. Starring Felix Kammerer as Paul Bäumer, Albrecht Schuch as Stanislaus Katczinsky “Kat" and Aaron Hilmer as Albert Kropp, navigating their way through harrowing circumstances as young soldiers and friends.
Berge’s masterful directing brings this story to life and highlights its incredibly human elements. Long, swift camera movements accompanied by repeated overhead shots allow the audience to take on an all-seeing view of the action below. These techniques expertly guide viewers through treacherous and unrelenting circumstances, showcasing the helplessness and disorientation the soldiers feel. Whether represented through a calm city street or a blood-stained battlefield, the stillness, and precision of Berge’s directing commands an immersive look into the emptiness of war. This dismal and hopeless environment, only deviated by fleeting moments of refuge felt throughout the war, allows for a closer look at comradery. Stolen moments of joy found in solitude and through companionship provide a needed contrast from the typically violent depiction of the essence of war. This balance sets All Quiet on the Western Front apart from many other war films. Its ability to travel between these two opposing spaces emphasizes many underrepresented aspects of war.
Cinematographer James Friend takes this same transcendence to a new level through the usage of color. The film is draped in a cool-toned hue, giving a greater sense of authenticity to the nuance behind war. These components surpass the blindness exhibited by both sides of the conflict, those in command and those left to fulfill futile demands in pursuit of falsely promised honor. This veil is kept continuous through the color palette, only disturbed by piercing reds and oranges, generated by elements such as blood, sunlight, and fire. Thus depicting the harsh extremities felt by both ends of the spectrum.
Kammerer’s moving performance brings this same sentiment of humanity to the forefront. The physical manifestation of the war’s impact on his character’s appearance, expression, and demeanor grows throughout the progression of the film. His character ultimately tests the bounds of glamorization, removing the deceitful cloak of honor, glory, and respect war seek to uphold.
Edward Berge's All Quiet on the Western Front serves as a thought-provoking insight into the grim, honest reality of World War 1. Elevated through technical and artistic aspects such as cinematography, special effects, and directing, this film is sure to leave a mark on war movies of all kinds. Its unique perspective reveals both the true accomplishments of war and those it beckons itself toward.
