Review: Netflix’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ is a Powerful Film on Grief, Trauma, and the Horror of War

“All Quiet on the Western Front” opens on an obliterated battlefield somewhere in the European countryside with smooth camerawork that throws audiences into the macabre and destructive reality of World War I. The chilling scene follows a young German soldier as he is forced over the top of the trenches into no man’s land, and to his premature death. Director Edward Berger’s adaptation marks the third time Erich Maria Remarque’s book — which was inspired by his own experiences as a German soldier during World War I — has been adapted for the Big Screen, with Directors Lewis Milestone and Delbert Mann each bringing their own version of the novel to life.

Like the novel of the same name, “All Quiet on the Western Front” tells the story of a young Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) as he and his friends, blinded by heroic aspirations and childish naivety, sign up to fight in World War I. Heads filled with dreams to serve the fatherland and return as heroes, the boys soon arrive on the frontline. However, what they see immediately upends every expectation they had about the war, as the dreams quickly fade into a vicious fight for survival.

A New, Riveting Adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s Novel

Determined to make it out of the waterlogged trenches and away from the ravaged battlefields of the European countryside, Paul and his friends fight-tooth-and-nail in order to survive. While on the other side of it all, safe and dry in the comfort of luxurious train carriages, German diplomats negotiate with the French in order to stop the war once and for all. But as Paul sees his friends die one-by-one, the chaos and devastation of the war soon begin to hit home for Paul as he must come to terms with the harsh reality of conflict.

While this adaptation, written by Berger alongside Lesley Paterson and Ian Stockell, does for the most part follow the narrative of Remarque’s novel, he leaves out multiple parts, and changes bits and pieces throughout. Berger also decides to change the ending from the one in the book, and luckily for Berger it works in his favour, making the final scene in the film an emotional gut-punch just like the ending in the novel.

A Film Deserving of its Accolades

Remarque’s novel also doesn’t include any sort of political negotiations as seen in the film, but these scenes do allow for a stark contrast between the violence and mess of battle, and the decadence and luxury of politics, making way for a strong performance by Daniel Brühl. Berger also shifts focus in the film away from Paul — unlike Remarque’s novel —which focuses almost entirely on Paul and his first-hand experience of the war. Despite deviating from the source material, “All Quiet of the Western Front” still manages to be a stellar adaptation of an incredibly well-written novel from nearly 100 years ago. The film is led by a stellar (and BAFTA-nominated) directorial effort from Berger as he miraculously crafts a compelling film from a dark, deeply disturbing story.

Volker Bertelmann provides “All Quiet on the Western Front” with a score that is both menacing, poignant, and with a booming tone paired with the delicate sounds of a violin and a sprinkle of drums. Bertelmann’s work feels like strong competition for Justin Hurwitz’s luscious score for Damien Chazelle’s 1920s Hollywood epic “Babylon” in the 2023 Oscar’s race.

Impressive, Complex Performances

While the film may be a technical marvel, it also features some sensational performances from its entire ensemble. Felix Kammerer makes his acting debut with the film, delivering a powerful performance that effortlessly balances the mindset of a soldier deep in the trenches with inexperience, and the innocence of a boy thrown into the deep of the conflict. Kammerer’s performance highlights the trauma and terror of these soldiers’ experience, while also acting as a lifeline for viewers in the midst of the conflict. Albrecht Schuch brings the character of Stanislaus Katcinzinsky, a soldier alongside the four friends, to the screen. The German actor delivers a remarkable performance that tells a completely different story to the frightened performances given by Felix Kammerer, Aaron Hilmer, Mortiz Klaus, and Adrien Grünewald.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” is a film powered by its impressive technicality with the complex performances given by the cast, and a star-making debut from Felix Kammerer. Edward Berger crafts an immensely emotional, and impactful piece of cinema that feels worthy of all of the accolades it has received. Erich Maria Remarque’s novel is a perfect film for the Big Screen, and even with the new additions and subtractions from Berger, Paterson, and Stokell, it makes for an incredibly entertaining war film. This is a film that takes its audiences on a journey through grief, conflict, chaos and the horrors of World War I. It’s an incredibly powerful film, led equally powerfully by its lead and director, and the result is a devastatingly beautiful film from Erich Maria Remarque’s absorbing novel.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” is currently only available to watch on Netflix via subscription.