'All Quiet on the Western Front' Review: A Familiar but Welcome War Drama [TIFF 2022]
THE LATEST ADAPTATION OF THE STORIED NOVEL OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE AND METICULOUS EXPERIENCE.
The story of All Quiet on the Western Front is anything but new, with the original source material being just shy of a century old. It’s seen several adaptations, with the most recent crack at it being taken by German director Edward Berger. While the prospect of yet another World War One movie may seem like a put-off to some at initial glance, All Quiet on the Western Front is able to bring a uniquely cinematic experience to the table. Given the nature of the source material it’s adapting, the film isn’t going to reinvent the wheel when it comes to war films, and Berger knows that. Western Front is able to make a case for itself with some invigorating technical work and war scenes, accompanied by attention to character which helps to raise the stakes of the film into something truly powerful.
The film follows a young man, named Paul, played by German talent Felix Kammerer, and his journey from eagerly enlisting to join the German forces at the dawn of World War One, and this character more-or-less serves as the eyes of the audience. Paul and his comrades share a false ideal of nationalism entering a war that was built on it, and romanticize the idea of war, without any second thoughts. Paul’s desire to join the war is quickly subverted, and through his perspective, the film is able to immerse the viewers into the horrors of war, demonstrated in such a harrowing visual manner.
Berger and crew present a technically immersive depiction of war, in which the trenches rarely feel like a sanctuary, and every scene featuring a battlefield is filled with such a sense of dread and terror. This is made possible by amazing stunt work, choreography, and sound design, all of which are able to bring out fears and a sense of suspense you didn’t know you had.
Paul’s experiences are shared by his captain, Katczinsky, (Albrecht Schuch), and his comrades. A common criticism of war movies is that the spectacle often overshadows its inhabitants and makes for weak characters. Where All Quiet on the Western Front succeeds is striking the balance of shining the light between well-directed set pieces and also genuine character work, and is all the better for it. All of the performances are believable, with such great attention to defining character and making all characters have their own demons that they face, and their own unique reasons for wanting to escape the physical and emotional prisons of war. Their bonds feel tangible, and are easy to form a genuine audience attachment to.
Another standout performance comes from Daniel Brühl, who plays a small role in the film, but is able to give a performance filled with such burden and urgency playing a German consul attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between French and German forces.
All Quiet on the Western Front may not bring many new things to the table, but does bring a thrilling war epic, which does an stellar job of offering a harrowing and immersive experience of war, without ever losing sight of the perpetual cycle of doom at the center of it all, and putting its characters and message first, earning every minute of its extensive runtime.