It’s been nearly a hundred years since Erich Maria Remarque’s raw account of life in the trenches first shocked the world. Published in 1929, "All Quiet on the Western Front" was an instant bestseller, followed almost immediately by an epic Academy Award–winning Hollywood movie in 1930. Despite its enduring legacy, the literary classic has never been reimagined by a German director — until now.

Told from the perspective of 17-year-old German soldier Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), writer-director Edward Berger’s film begins three years into World War I — then the most brutal and bloody conflict in human history. Paul and his friends leave school bolstered by propaganda and dreams of glory and join the army, confident in victory. But the reality of trench warfare is more like a nightmare as they are plagued by rain, mud and surrounded by terrifying, constant death.

Applying a German lens to this slice of the country’s history felt crucial to Berger, sought to carve out a new perspective on conflict. “There’s a feeling that will be with us for our whole life: the feeling of the legacy of two wars,” he said. “Our view of war is dominated by sorrow and shame, by devastation and guilt. Nothing positive remains, not the tiniest spark of heroism. I found making our history, our background and our attitude to war the driving force behind a film a great challenge. And I thought that this very specific German perspective may well be of interest to people in other countries too. Especially at the moment.”

This latest adaptation has been roundly embraced by critics and audiences alike, including 14 BAFTA nominations (with wins including for Best Director, Best Film, Best Film Not in the English Language, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay) and 9 Oscar nominations (winning trophies for Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Production Design). With Albrecht Schuch (BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ), Daniel Brühl (GOOD-BYE LENIN, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS).

"Oscar time is ideal for catching up with Edward Berger’s ferocious anti-war epic about young German soldiers dying in WW1 trenches. The German-language film boasts a wow nine nominations, including Best Picture, and tragically its message never gets old." (ABC News)

".... more grisly, disturbing, and sadistic than any horror movie in 2022." (Austin Chronicle)

"A striking and harrowing portrait of the perils of nationalism, the chaos and madness of combat, and the lasting physical and psychological scars produced by both." (The Daily Beast)

"It’s sensory-overload, tough-though-rewarding viewing." (New York Post)

"Remarkable, if harrowing, film-making." (Observer)

Saturday, March 25
Doors 2:00 pm | Movie 2:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (Edward Berger, 2022 / 14A / German with English subtitles) A young German soldier's terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I.