All Quiet On The Western Front | New German-Language Film Version

[Darth Marcus]

Source: Deadline

‘All Quiet On The Western Front’: Timely German-Language Version Of WWI Classic Heads To EFM With Edward Berger, Daniel Bruhl & Rocket Science
Andrew Wiseman - February 14, 2020

EXCLUSIVE: There has never been a German-language film version of landmark German novel All Quiet On The Western Front. That is set to change with an intriguing new version of the WWI story which brings together BAFTA-winning director Edward Berger (Patrick Melrose), Euro producers Malte Grunert (A Most Wanted Man) and Daniel Dreifuss (No), and actor-producer Daniel Bruhl (Rush).

Rocket Science are also producing and are launching world sales next week at the EFM on the (anti-)war movie, which comes hot on the heels of Oscar-winning WWI story 1917 and local-language smash Parasite. Berger and the producers will be in Berlin to discuss the project.

One of the best-selling German novels of all time, Erich Maria Remarque’s poignant story follows three youngsters who voluntarily enlist in the German army. Full of excitement and patriotic fervour, the boys enthusiastically march into a war they believe in. But once on the Western Front, they discover the soul-destroying horror of war. Their preconceptions about the enemy and the rights and wrongs of the conflict crumble. On the countdown to Armistice, the novel’s protagonist must carry on fighting until the end, with no purpose other than to satisfy the top brass’s desire to end the war on a German offensive.

The novel was famously adapted by Universal and Lewis Milestone in 1930 and went on to win Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

The plan is to shoot the $20M-budgeted film at the end of the year in Belgium and Germany. Goodbye Lenin! and Rush actor Bruhl is attached for the ensemble cast and will be an executive producer. Casting is underway for the main role of Paul Baumer. The leads will likely be newcomers or emerging actors.

The English-language script, which is being translated into German, comes from Lesley Patterson and Ian Stokell who first optioned the book rights almost a decade ago. Rocket Science will be sending the project out to buyers today.

In-demand German filmmaker Berger told us, “People want authenticity. There is no way this film could be made today in a language other than German. It’s actually remarkable to think there has never been a German-language version. It’s a real hole in our film history. Telling a truthful version of the story is so important to us. We’re thinking of it as being in the tradition of movies like Downfall and Das Boot.”

He continued, “All Quiet On The Western Front may be set in 1918, but it speaks directly to our times and the divisive tone in today’s discourse. It is a physical, visceral and very modern film that has never been told from my country’s perspective. We now have the chance to make an anti-war film that will truly touch our audience.”

Veteran German producer Grunert, whose anti-war film Land Of Mine was Oscar-nominated in 2015 and who most recently made post WWII-drama The Aftermath with Keira Knightley, told us, “The world has been changed by the streamers in terms of local-language production. It’s much easier to access a global market. Credibility and acceptance has really risen in the last years thanks to shows like Narcos, Dark and Money Heist.”

He continued, “All Quiet On the Western Front to this day is indeed the definitive novel about war and the utter senselessness of it. War knows no heroes. 100 years after its publication the novel has retained all its impact and power. In the hands of Edward, it will be a very meaningful and contemporary take on the story, a powerful film and an impressive cinematic experience. I am really excited and looking forward to spending all of my energy making this now.”

Six years ago Roger Donaldson was attached to an English-language incarnation of the project, which was being set up out of the U.S.

Berger came to international prominence with 2014 movie Jack which screened in competition at Berlin. He went on to direct hit series Deutschland 83 and Patrick Melrose. Most recently he helmed movie All My Loving, which screened at last year’s Berlinale. The filmmaker also has buzzed-about movie project Rio on his upcoming slate.

Berger is represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Anonymous Content and ICM.

[Aclea]

It'll be interesting to see how they handle the ending since the butterfly scene was created for the 1931 film: the novel ends with

[Show spoiler]Paul's dead body simply being described as looking calm without explaining how he died

. Universal went through several different endings before finding their own solution when cinematographer Karl Freund said the ending should be as simple as a butterfly.

[dancerslegs]

Really hope this one isn't brought down by that single-take shit conceit.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by dancerslegs

Really hope this one isn't brought down by that single-take shit conceit.

Why would it? After 1917 all World War 1 films have to be one shot?

[evilive]

Sounds good, sign me up!

[Himmel]

First Look..

[Pieter V]

Runtime: 147 minutes
Rated R for strong bloody war violence and grisly images.

[dvining]

I've been looking forward to this one for a while now.

[Heinz-Klett]

Teaser:

All Quiet on the Western Front | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube

On Netflix on October 28 and earlier in selected theaters.

[evilive]

Looks great!

[Poya]

God, the cinematography is astonishingly atrocious. Deakins, this is not.

[Pieter V]

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Q&A | TIFF 2022 - YouTube

[Pieter V]

All Quiet on the Western Front | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

[edmonddantes]

when I watched the original 1930 film I tried to put myself in the shoes of filmgoers that went to see the Milestone film just a bit more than a decade after the war ended, and in many cases had a family member dead or with a permanent scar (physical or otherwise), and with that in mind I thought the film was utterly superb.

A modern film following the same guidelines but without the temporal context will never have the same impact. Thats not to say this can't be good, but what the original film did to a worldwide audience was opening their eyes against their will, and show them hell. As such I think this and j'accuse must be the two most influential war films ever made.

[Pieter V]

BEHIND THE SCENES: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, NETFLIX

https://www.ibc.org/features/behind-...x/9266.article

[Prog5000]

Will this be dubbed?

[Rollo Tomassi]

Watched the movie last night and thought it was very good, with one nitpick:

[Show spoiler]They introduced lateral plot elements which apparently were aimed at creating more tension, like the side-plot of the armistice carriage with Daniel Brühl. But I liked it nonetheless, as it gave the movie a whole new dimension! Other parts, like Kat getting killed by a french peasant boy instead of simply in battle and the German counter attack minutes before the armistice I'm still on the fence about. There were other parts that hadn't been in any other film version, that were shown in this film, including some visceral depictions of war violence that were directly taken from Remarque's book, such as the horribly mutilated dead body up on a tree branch, thrown there by a mine thrower blast.

I think it's laughable, that some of you think the movie should try to copy Deakins cinematography and that this movie looks atrocious! I thought it displayed fine craftsmanship, to say the least! Also: for me personally the movie had a HUGE impact, given the fact we are currently witnessing another war in Europe! When the headmaster (who himself probably had never heard a shot fired in anger hinself!) gave that atrocious, patriotic drivel speech to the students I couldn't help myself thinking, that's what they're telling young Russian men RIGHT NOW!

[Just_Discovered_3D]

Originally Posted by Rollo Tomassi

Watched the movie last night and thought it was very good, with one nitpick:

[Show spoiler]They introduced lateral plot elements which apparently were aimed at creating more tension, like the side-plot of the armistice carriage contract with Daniel Brühl. But I liked it nonetheless, as it gave the movie a whole new dimension! Other parts, like Kat getting killed by a french peasant boy instead of simply in battle and the German counter attack minutes before the armistice I'm still on the fence about. There were other parts that hadn't been in any other film version, that were shown in this film, including some visceral depictions of war violence that were directly taken from Remarque's book, such as the horribly mutilated dead body up on a tree branch, thrown there by a mine thrower blast.

I think it's laughable, that some of you think the movie should try to copy Deakins cinematography and that this movie looks atrocious! I thought it displayed fine craftsmanship, to say the least! Also: for me personally the movie had a HUGE impact, given the fact we are currently witnessing another war in Europe! When the headmaster (who himself probably had never heard a shot fired in anger hinself!) gave that atrocious, patriotic drivel speech to the students I couldn't help myself thinking, that's what they're telling young Russian men RIGHT NOW!

We've got 2 wars going on right now in Europe, both involving former USSR territories, but only one makes the headlines.

I recall being forced to read this book (the irony) and not being able to relate to the main character because he tells us that he felt pressured into signing up for the war and therefore did so without putting up any protest. Then he gripes about it for the rest of the novel, giving me the impression that I the reader am being used as an emotional sponge for the guy to soak up the guy's regret over not having had a spine.

Much better, I thought, was the WW1 arc in Downton Abbey, where the villainous gay manservant signs up for the war and purposefully has himself maimed there so that he can parlay that into gaining social status and safety back home. I'll take conniving and devious over sadsack sobbing every time

[Rollo Tomassi]

Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

We've got 2 wars going on right now in Europe, both involving former USSR territories, but only one makes the headlines.

I recall being forced to read this book (the irony) and not being able to relate to the main character because he tells us that he felt pressured into signing up for the war and therefore did so without putting up any protest. Then he gripes about it for the rest of the novel, giving me the impression that I the reader am being used as an emotional sponge for the guy to soak up the guy's regret over not having had a spine.

Much better, I thought, was the WW1 arc in Downton Abbey, where the villainous gay manservant signs up for the war and purposefully has himself maimed there so that he can parlay that into gaining social status and safety back home. I'll take conniving and devious over sadsack sobbing every time

Clearly Remarque's novel went over your head!
Young people are impressionable, that's the whole point.
Shame you missed that...
And what are you even doing on this thread, if you didn't like the novel?

[Just_Discovered_3D]

Originally Posted by Rollo Tomassi

Clearly Remarque's novel went over your head!
Young people are impressionable, that's the whole point.
Shame you missed that...
And what are you even doing on this thread, if you didn't like the novel?

It remains of note as an anti-war book that dares to criticize those who are anti-war.

It's ironic that in much of America, reading this book is compulsory, an irony compounded by the woes of the book's protagonist being voluntary.

Ultimately, it's a book about a guy whining about how he is miserable today because he didn't have the spine to stand up for what he knew was right. Which is a good point overall to the novel, but its self-indulgent "woe is me" whining just ain't becoming, or a fun read.