It was the outsider that created a surprise for the cinema masses. After winning 7 awards at the BAFTAs – including Best Director and Best Picture – this German war film is the second most awarded film at the 95th Academy Awards, all at once.
Winner of 4 Oscars (Best International Film, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score and Best Design and Art Direction), the German war film Nothing New was able to fight off strong competition in the West.
Netflix surprise at the Oscars
Directed by Eduard Berger (Deutschland 83, The Terror, Your Honor), this adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel of the same name, published in 1929, was a huge hit on Netflix as soon as it went online.
Nothing New West describes the First World War through the eyes of Paul, a young German volunteer soldier on the Western Front. On the front line, Paul and his comrades see initial euphoria turn to despair and fear as they face the realities of war and must fend for their lives deep in the trenches.
The book quickly became a symbol of German pacifism There is nothing new in the West – which was a huge success in bookstores – got its author hunted by the Nazis. The novel has already been adapted for the big screen twice: in 1930 by Lewis Milestone (Oscar winner for Best Picture and Best Director) and in 1979 by Delbert Mann.
In addition to its painful plot, the film can count on its cast, which consists of Daniel Brühl, Albrecht Schüch, Sebastian Hulk, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovich and David Streisow, but above all the hero Felix Kammerer, for whom this is his first film. . Several French actors are in the part, most notably Thibault de Montambert (Ten Percent), who plays General Foch.
Despite its success on Netflix, Nothing New was torpedoed in the West by the German press, who considered it too far from the original novel and considered it a “well-made film” but above all else. “Exciting show for the Oscars”. In a way, they weren’t really wrong, as the German war film took over the international scene, leaving behind 4 Oscars in addition to 7 BAFTAs.
Nothing new in the West is available on Netflix.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
