All Quiet on the Western Front 1930
Film “All Quiet on the Western Front” is a classic adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel “Im Westen nichts Neues”, which exposes the futility of war and argues that everyone loses in war. The movie depicts how German youths, driven by the nationalist-militarist feelings imposed on them by their narrow-minded teachers, are crushed under the weight and brutality of the First World War. It starkly portrays how their decision to volunteer for war, even if they physically survive, leaves deep wounds on their souls. The film and the book faced backlash from nationalists when they were released, with the movie being banned in Italy and Germany, and the book being burned during the Nazi book burning campaign in 1933. The film also won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture.
