The more a person is able to respond to the historical and universal, the broader his nature, the richer his life and the more capable such a person is of progress and development. - Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky If you want to see the unbridled, pristine rage in its purest form, please, it is only necessary to make a convinced humanist hot to whitewash. Agatha Christie. Murder at the vicar's house The most important task facing humanity today is the integrated use of all existing achievements of science and technology to solve global problems caused by the inhumanity of commodity-money methods of resource allocation on the planet. Jacques Fresco As long as humans continue to kill animals, they will kill each other. He who sows the seeds of murder and pain will not reap joy and love. pythagoras Very psychologically accurate film. Humanity. In the same breath. Thanks. I recommend it. 👓
The collapse of regime ideology, the shattering blade of love, freedom and honesty.
The film, of course, carries a gay love line: beautiful main characters, who were selected especially meticulously, their close relationships, little resembling friendships, and types that best reveal themselves in love relationships.
At the time, the director did not dare to show all this to the fullest, so a scene was introduced in which both, endowed with the attention of the director and the audience, a guy staring at a half-naked girl; however, this love for women was not revealed and, apparently, was added to distract the eyes from the reality of the film. And strangely enough, this reticence of the director went only to the benefit of the film, and not because I would not like to see gays in the film, rather the opposite; just so the film did not slide into erotic hugs, only occupying screen time. The essence of the film, of course, in another, but love here is stronger than ever; in its tragic form, the pain of which bursts out and every moment crushes regime lies.
I highly recommend it. This film is as pure as the morning dew, and every moment you will be full of emotions. Remember and carry with you purity, freedom, love and honesty. Then there will be fewer nightmares in the world in the form of socialist regimes.
10 out of 10
The film really gets into the soul. The cast is very well selected. The charisma of the main characters fights hard, the film really tells us about humanity and those who transcend it, and not just a beautiful picture, as in many other films of this and military plan. This is clearly shown in the example of two heroes. How to move on, but return to humanity. That moment touched me the most. This is a movie that will emotionally load you, it is heavy, you will be impressed with it for a long time. It is also about true friendship and the pain of loss, you can say it plays on the feelings of your viewer, because everyone has experienced at least once similar feelings. And most importantly, after watching it, you want to strive in your life for something better and right. What I consider the most important thing in any high-moral movie.
One of the few films that will always be my favorites and I will always be happy to see, I can’t imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t seen such a masterpiece. So for all doubters, look clearly. And then everyone will draw conclusions for themselves. I will only leave my humble opinion, which may help someone.
I agree with previous reviews that without Tom Schilling, the film would have lost a lot. His hero from the main, but second plan, became the one who is most memorable in this film. But I don’t think it’s an accident, certainly the painstaking and hard work of those who worked on this movie.
For those looking for something like this, see My Earth (2015), which is also a very good movie.
I love films about the war, and in general stories about how a person who finds himself in exceptional circumstances makes a difficult choice, makes a feat and so on.
“Academy of Death” was recommended to me a long time ago by a man who called it his favorite film, but then he didn’t come to me, it seemed very tough. Now I am interested in history in general and the Great Patriotic War in particular, so I watched the film with great pleasure.
I really liked the surroundings – a mysterious elite school in the castle, harsh teachers, the whole atmosphere is spelled out with strict discipline and cruelty. Of these naïve young men they strive to eradicate all that is good and humane, to make ruthless murderers and overseers of the conquered territories. And in these conditions, a warm friendship is born, which changes the life of the main character.
Magnificent play of actors, both main and secondary, absolutely everyone managed to reproduce a believable and lively image. Well, the main characters, Friedrich and Albrecht, are simply amazing. I absolutely believe in the truth of Friedrich Weimer (Max Riemelt), a guy from a family of ordinary workers, who in the future is waiting for a factory, hard physical labor, hopeless poverty. The National Political Academy gives him a chance to occupy a high position in society, but the question is: at what cost?
Albrecht Stein, the son of a cruel and domineering Gauleiter, a gentle and kind young man with more inclinations for creativity than for military affairs, he was born at the wrong time and in the wrong family. Stein becomes a friend of Frederick, and under his influence the guy changes. Stunning acting by Tom Schilling, one of the most shrill and talented actors of our time.
I really loved these characters. There are heroes and movies that are never forgotten. The Academy of Death is one of them. I think it should be seen by everyone, not only those who are interested in history, the Second World War, the influence of propaganda on people, etc. But also for those who have children (note the line of Albrecht's relationship with parents). Everybody.
Because it's a movie about being Human, even if there are killers around. On how to strive for fame and honor, not to become a monster. How not to betray yourself. Friendship and support. It is still very relevant today.
“At first I thought that what we were aiming for was to cleanse the world of evil, but when I saw it live, I realized that we were evil.”
Among the films about the Second World War, I rarely saw pictures that successfully show the German view of the war machine, even less often there were films that show the emergence of Nazi views among young people. The Academy of Death (Napola) is one such film. The film tells the story of a young German guy Friedrich, who had the opportunity to begin his studies at the elite national-political academy (NapolA).
The guy is incredibly happy to join the elite and become a part of history, having received an excellent military education and joining the best troops of Hitler. However, when he started his studies, Friedrich began to see the other side of the coin. In this he is helped by his classmate Albrecht, who became a close friend for him during his studies - Albrecht came to study on the strong advice of his parents, but the guy is not created to study in this place - he is a pacifist and does not share nationalist views, for which he is condemned by his parents.
The film shows how the Hitler Youth formed at the time, and how the views instilled in the boys influenced the formation of their personality. There are a lot of characters in the film, and they are all different – someone clearly chose the right place for himself, someone is initially superfluous, and someone only has to weigh two scales to understand whose side he is on. Although the plot revolves mainly around two friends, and among the minor characters here are those who will definitely remain in memory. Sometimes those about whom a certain opinion is formed at the beginning, in fact, turn out to be quite different - and this is also very well shown here.
“Napola” may not have any outstanding camera work or music, but I have no questions about the script – the film looks with great interest and suggests. This is a great movie.
This picture turned out to be more interesting for me from a cognitive point of view, it reproduces the inner life of one of the 40 “national political educational institutions” that existed in Nazi Germany during the war years – a school for cultivating hard Nazi fanatics, the future elite of society. Apparently, the director wanted to make a touching film with some meditative effect, hence the stretched (slowed-down) moments of awareness of certain events and the corresponding stretched music. However, the desired effect, in my opinion, he did not succeed, and this directorial claim, because it failed properly, looks like some ostentatious, artificial and unnecessary protractedness. In addition, the taste of redundancy and artificiality creates a violent emotionality of the main character in some moments - it does not look very plausible, there is a feeling that the actor overplays and that it would be quite possible to do without such an active expression of feelings. On the other hand, the rest of the actors Dennis Hanzel portrayed, albeit slightly flat, but, in general, acceptable.
It turned out to be a medium-sized film with a good acting, a good and neat picture, in principle, with an article about and correct dramatic content about the uncertain confrontation of a living human heart with an attempt to roll the emerging personality into the asphalt of unmerciful social Darwinist ideas about a person and about his priority values and interests in this world. The film could have risen higher in my perception - the prerequisites for this at first seemed to be there - but could not, somehow stereotyped, or something shallow and neat everything turned out. The fire seemed to burn, but did not light, and the value of the film was reduced to a curiously informative and aesthetic, but not exciting-emotional moment, although it was definitely the bet of the director.
7 out of 10
War drama. The picture, which, at one time, I came across quite by accident while watching TV, and something, even then, it impressed me that I watched it to the end. Then, as a child, I did not understand what, but now everything fell into place, and for me it opened up in a completely new way, and the impressions I received as a child were supplemented by the experience and knowledge that I now have. And I'll tell you without humility, it's a very strong and emotional picture. Of course, it has disadvantages (and where they are, in fact, not), but they go along with the pluses, and even complement them. So let’s start with this picture.
So, pluses:
1. The camera work is at a very decent level, except for some dynamic episodes where the camera is constantly twitching, and it is extremely difficult to consider everything. The winter scenery was especially good, though maybe it's because I just love this time of year. In general, the castle, nature and general plans were successful.
2. The theme of the film tells about the National – political academies, which trained future mayors, Gauleiters, officers of the SS, SD, or, in Russian terms – animals that will destroy anyone who was unlucky to be born “Aryan”. And their teaching methods were simply monstrous. Paintings that touch on the history of these so-called "educational" institutions I have not seen, and will not see, as I think. And you know what is scary is that these academies did exist, as sources say, there were about forty of them, but the fate of their pupils turned out to be sad.
3. The strongest dramatic episodes - what, but this picture just can not take away, because she very skillfully places accents, and concentrates in important moments so precisely that can not but please. Against this background, there is a very noticeable contrast between the beginning and the end of the picture.
4. “The way” of the hero – in the picture, the emotional and characteristic path of the main character is very clearly traced, if at the beginning he is full of hopes and confident in his future, and his doubts do not ponder, but in the end he, having seen the whole essence of the system and experienced severe mental suffering, decides to be who he is. Of course, in many paintings it is the same, but this is where it stands out very much.
5. The act of one of the heroes is the whole stage of his life, which struck me then, even as a child, and made me think. And action is the key to understanding the whole picture.
Minus:
1. “Tough” scenes – no, don’t think about it, there is no such stuff that Mikhalkov did in “Burnt by the Sun 2”, and there are no nauseating scenes from arthouses here either. Here they rather show how teenagers were made animals that kill without mercy. Yes, sometimes you want to turn away from them, but I wouldn’t do that.
I thought I could still write this, but I didn’t find it.
A bit about the main characters:
1. Friedrich Weimer, played by Max Rumelt, is an ordinary German guy who is fond of boxing, who, against the will of his relatives, decided to go to the National Academy, where he will make new friends, and learn the essence of the political system of the Third Reich. Max captivated me with his acting, because he played emotions so well that I did not doubt for a moment the truth of everything happening on the screen.
2. Albrecht Stein, played by Tom Schilling, is the son of a high-ranking official who, against all odds, resists the ideological contagion that rages around him, and this greatly stands out among other pupils. A friend of Frederick, who became an example of humanity for him. Tom was great. Bravo!
3. Heinrich Stein, played by Justus von Donanyi, is a Nazi official, Albrecht’s father, who is a product of the system, because he knows no pity for his own or even for strangers, is selflessly loyal to Hitler and a fanatic, to some extent.
And you know that the most terrible thing is the system that was in the middle of the 20th century in Europe, and which was destroyed by such a huge number of victims, has come to life and is successfully exploited in fear of Africa, where something similar to these academies was created. Terrible. This picture is a living reminder to descendants of what should never be repeated! You have to be human!
As a result, we have just an excellent military drama about the pupils of the Fuehrer’s academies, which perfectly shows all their background, and is a reminder of this.
8 out of 10
I rarely watch movies on this subject. But the "Academy" liked by chance, decided to evaluate. I have no regrets at all.
It is this film that conveys everything that happened during the war. And this is not our usual view, we look at the whole situation not from our side, but from the German guys who live in Germany, who are trained in a special academy, training ruthless fighters.
The scene in the woods, after the murder, is a turning point for me.
I was very impressed, I will honestly say, crying. This movie was very difficult for me. But it deserves the attention of all people. Everyone should see it because it really shows us something important. This is the kind of movie that deserves all the awards.
Appreciating this film, the phrase comes to mind: "Nothing superfluous." There's atmosphericity. Acting with no downsides. The landscapes, the view of the castle please the eye. Musical accompaniment on the subject. The film is measured, looks easy, there are no lengthy unnecessary dialogues.
The theme of the development of the two main heroes of society is revealed. This confrontation is based on their disagreement with some methods of the Academy against the background of general indifference, such as: moral oppression by the authorities of a guy with enuresis, the shooting of prisoners of unarmed Russians, the cruel rules reigning in the institution. Life in most cells of society involves indifference of its representatives to things worth thinking about, reluctance to understand another individual and unwillingness to appear different. The director wanted to show it more clearly, taking the events taking place in Napol. It worked. But in my opinion, he did not portray the most terrible moments for wartime as too tragic.
A knockout fight in a boxing match – what’s so terrible? A little tough, but still the school was engaged in the education of the military elite. I think the crowds of Arabs and Turks in the 21st century in the home of the director are worse than the fight before the knockout.
The shooting of unarmed Russian prisoners. Yes, this is not normal, but it just so happens that there is a war and some cruelty has to be tolerated.
It was really pity for a student with enuresis, who gave his life, saving in general not even his comrades (judging by their attitude to him).
I especially liked the film with something sentimental that gives it more depth. Sentimentality is in the American tapes, but in most of them it does not look so realistic. I noticed that Scandinavian and German films are more attractive in this regard. I would put 10, but since there were several points hinting at the possible homosexuality of the characters (just does not coincide with the theme of the film), the assessment
I call the Academy of Death the “School of Life” because it was there that many learned what they did not know before. Fantastic physical training, shooting, army alignment, discipline. But no less is the emotional plan.
Heroism, true male friendship, solidarity, mercy. The film reveals the problem that many parents are extremely concerned that their children are not what they would like them to be. But children need to be loved as they are, or from childhood to instill in them a lot. We saw both deception and trust in this film. Love and hate. Heroism and cowardice. The Academy of Death, after watching it, makes a person think about a lot. I think this film is very good because of the scenes that are loaded with life. I'm thrilled with this heavy, emotional viewing. I recommend this to anyone who is not obsessed with hatred of National Socialism. I have said this many times in my life, and I will repeat it now, that what Hitler did is not the burden of the entire German people. We also fought a lot and captured many. That's our nature.
To be honest, I have not seen such a high-quality and touching film for a long time. The film catches from the first minutes, all this: the Nazi Academy in a huge castle in the mountains, ruthless boxing and male friendship. The atmosphere is hurried.
These guys are the future elite of the Third Reich. They study German literature, hunt Russian prisoners with guns in the night forest, and swim under the ice. But Frederick (the main character) is tormented by doubts - is he on the right path?
The actors liked the performance, and Max Riemelt (Friedrich), in my opinion, is extremely talented!
The film is a must-see for both connoisseurs of this topic and just lovers of pretty boys.
From them grow cold-blooded, intolerant of weakness and mercy monsters. There is no place for those who still have a heart, who still respect their conscience and human laws. They don’t even think it’s right or wrong, they say they’re doing it. And this is one of the many horrors of war - the thoughtless, servile execution of the most monstrous orders from above. It is no coincidence that the whole picture is kept in dead-white tones: the hearts of those who have known war also freeze.
Young Friedrich dreams of the elite school of the Fuehrer, from where he will come, in his opinion, a real man. Not counting the categorical refusal of his father, he goes to his goal, unaware that one day he will remember everything that happens as a terrible, painful dream. Friedrich is not as talented and sensitive as the son of the governor Albrecht, not as brave and desperate as the boy who sacrificed himself for others (I still remember the expression on his face at that last moment), but he too comes to his Truth, albeit in a thorny way.
It is painful to look at these confused, not thinking about the true situation of children. What can they know about life? And who can guide them to the right path, the path of non-violence? It takes great courage to defend one’s humanistic views in such a contrasting environment as the camp of young Hitlerites, as Albrecht did. He felt unnecessary to anyone, he understood that his own father was ashamed of him, since he would never be able to conform to his ideas about a real man (" Too weak...), and the boy also made his choice, the correctness of which others have no right to judge. This is not a weakness, but a strong-willed decision, and let the scorching ice water warm him more than the contempt of his father or the indifference of his mother.
Such people are needed by every nation. The elite, the cream, the best representatives, whatever you call them, but the essence has been the same for more than a century: to present the nation from the best side, both inside the country as an example for others and abroad, proving to the world the right of a people to exist and its viability. And besides, to be the generator and conductor of ideas, principles, concepts that allow the nation to be competitive in this world, which at all times put power and strength in everything at the forefront.
Of course, such people need to be formed and educated, and there is simply no alternative to the state they are called upon to serve as a mentor. One of the basic values and instilled virtues is patriotism. And here begin to appear the first pitfalls associated with the system of human values professed in the state. National Socialism in Germany perverted the concept of patriotism, preaching it in a perverted form and essentially replacing it with chauvinism. The difference between these concepts is fundamental, because if a chauvinist says: “My nation is the best!”, then a patriot says: “I want my nation to become a better one.” Accordingly, in the pupils of such schools, along with beautiful appeals to love their country and their people cunningly, in a Jesuit manner, racial intolerance and disregard for other ethnic groups were cultivated. This was not done snoring, but consistently and purposefully. And many people in Germany felt that they were hiding behind beautiful slogans. Not without reason, Friedrich’s father was extremely disapproved of his son’s decision to study in Napol, and in reality to become a cog in the state machine. Painted in gold paint, who will be told from day to day that he is the best, hardened and trouble-free, but in fact, from which they can at any moment get rid of unnecessary, just throwing out or replacing another. Dennis Hansel made an interesting psycho-social observation here: for some reason all this falsity was more quickly felt by a simple hard worker, who is Friedrich’s father, at the same time Albert’s supposedly more educated father, who pushed his son into this school with force, did not understand anything until the very end, the son here turned out to be smarter and, oddly enough, stronger than him.
The cutting and grinding of the elite for the Third Reich in the Academy is shown very well, without embellishment, in all its cruel reality. Collectivism is not the worst invention of mankind unless it is transformed into a herd in its most ugly forms. The widespread humiliation of one of the students shocks both his comrades and the viewer. The worst of the best should be ruthlessly rejected, and the rest should be stimulated by fear of such a fate.
The great paradox that runs through the whole film of Hanzel is that seemingly educating people who are self-sufficient, confident, called, figuratively speaking, not only to act, but also to think for the benefit of the state, in practice the system suppresses and breaks, because you can think only in a given direction, without allowing yourself a shadow of doubt. Therefore, individuals like Albert are simply doomed here, not only under the conditions of specifically National Socialism, but under any totalitarian system.
In the "Academy of Death" we will not see strong emotional explosions, scenes on the "bare nerve", everything in German is restrained, pragmatic, and still very expressive. Close-ups, facial expressions, eye expressions often tell more about the characters in the film than words. And the tragedy of Albert, who is brilliantly played by Tom Schilling, for all the stinginess of the external expression of emotions, is felt only more acutely.
How can not but touch the viewer and the fate of Frederick himself, whose role is just as talented performed by Max Riemelt. And the answer to the question, whose fate is more tragic, for all the apparent obviousness, is far from clear. Albert didn't seem to believe in anything from the start. But Frederick believed and sincerely, strongly. Therefore, as the filmmakers subtly hint, disappointment can be no less a test than even almost complete loneliness.
However, for all its cloudiness, the picture carries a charge of optimism, leading to the idea that people are human in nature, and few manage to kill this in themselves, allow them to completely erase themselves, thank God. The main thing is that the epiphany does not come when it is too late.
Very beautiful and emotionally vivid music was written by the composers Angelo Badalamenti and Norman Corbey. Especially strongly takes the soul composition in the scene at the hole and the final theme.
With this film, the Germans posed a number of painful but necessary questions, the answers to which must be sought after more than seventy years. But in fact, the problems raised by Hansel’s picture go far beyond Germany, they are topical for virtually every country around the world.
9 out of 10
I believe that fascism is an ideal way of governing the state, only it was implemented by mentally ill people who decided that they were superior to others and this destroyed them. All films that were shot on the theme of the Great Patriotic War showed the superiority of the fascists in the equipment and training of their soldiers. Hitler and Co. were destroyed by the wrong choice of the enemy and my words are confirmed by the bullet in the head of the Adolf and the victory of the Soviet Union over the fascists. I congratulate everyone on the Defender of the Fatherland Day.
The film tells about a young man who is engaged in boxing. One day, the elite of society in the face of future fascists comes to the section where the guy was engaged. Our right-wing guy shows himself to be a great boxer and he is invited to the academy to prepare the ideal youth, where only the best or the children of high-ranking officials go. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yesterday you were a simple guy whose future job is in the factory, and today you can become the elite of society and in the future lead one of the many captured states. It seems that the parents should support the child and with a calm soul let go of the house, but not everything is so simple, the father is categorically against it and forbids even to think about it. Of course, the guy was not going to miss this opportunity and decided to leave the house.
The film immerses us in the world of raising ideal youth, where there is no place for fear and weakness. Young people see what it means to say “All means are good in war” during the film very young guys turn into men and not everyone stands the test.
“Academy of Death” is one of the most tragic and most beautiful films I’ve ever seen.
There are no cardboard characters and inexplicable actions. On the contrary, everything is so real that it becomes creepy.
We see how in reality, sixteen- and seventeen-year-old boys, for whom the “new elite school” is a way to break out into people. At the same time, for these same “people”, they are only a new weapon for achieving their own, very dubious, goals. And then just the cannon fodder.
The film perfectly reveals how Germany literally turns inside out: such a peculiar view of the madness happening to her from the inside, through the eyes of a child.
Each of these children has its own destiny, its own tasks and its own troubles. And everyone deals with them as much as they can. Not yet an adult, but with each new mistake they learn, and someone else’s bitter experience makes them a little less children.
At first it seems that there is no way out of the hellish whirlpool, but then the well-functioning machine fails - when one was strong enough, and the other, on the contrary, weak enough to shake at least one cog. The film is not really a “machine.” Still, his goal, in my opinion, was to show how difficult and painful it is to grow up.
One of the most amazing things that happened to me while watching: I could hardly have come out of the world of Nazi Germany without Albrecht’s help – so beautiful, though disgusting, is this machine built by Hitler. I really didn’t want Albrecht to read his work, and then when Friedrich said, “Did you think about others?” I realized that it was not just a spontaneous sensation, but the idea of the creators. I was very impressed by this, to be honest.
There are many problems in the Academy of Death, but not all of them are fully solved. But I cannot help but note the seriousness with which the filmmakers approached the implementation of their idea. Still, such paintings are worthy of praise and high marks.
Being in good sports shape and of Aryan origin, Friedrich receives an offer to join the ranks of pupils of the National - a political academy, at the end of which graduates are given wealthy paths in life. Driven by the will to avoid the fate of his parents in poverty and poverty, he agrees, without even knowing what Napola really is.
Friedrich is one of the heroes in the world of cinema and, quite possibly, in the pages of books that destroy the nationalists’ belief in world domination and the supremacy of their race over others. A simple peaceful boy, who was barely sixteen, makes the first important decision against the will of his father and joins the ranks of Napol’s pupils. For the first time, he feels in his place, presenting the students of the Academy as the future elite of society, and seeks to show with all his might that he is ready to proudly wear the title of nationalist.
As you learn, details of the other side of the coin are revealed. Such a motto as “Weakness and compassion do not belong here” is open to constant memorization on specific examples: a guy suffering from enuresis becomes the object of bullying a sadistic coach, and Friedrich’s friend Albrecht avoids this fate only because he is the son of a high-ranking father. Even the death of a young man who covered his body with a grenade to save his friends, the Academy presents as an act of a worthy nationalist and an example to follow.
Nationalism could not have a future, as two friends have shown. One by demonstrating the baseness of the human nature of the teachings here by reading an essay, the second by lowering his hands in the ring in front of the enemy, putting the commanders-in-chief of the Reich in a very uncomfortable position. It would seem that the film shows two personalities who allowed themselves to contradict the System, the further development of which within the framework of the Academy is quite natural, but at the same time the director represents the spirit of the times and the whole idea of the imperfection of training Steel soldiers. Surprisingly, it is the Germans who best convey the mistakes of their country.
Of course, fascism or, to be more precise, Nazism, which is the kind of regime Germany adhered to from 1933 to 1945, cannot be justified. Contemporary Germans still feel guilty about that period of their history, and look at their older generation with a certain amount of contempt – how could they allow that to happen?
But let us not forget that the National Socialist Workers’ Party (NSDAP) came to power legally and established its dictatorship absolutely legally. It was the regime. Of course, not everyone supported him, but the country had no other way of development at that time, people lived in this – they had to put up with it. It is in this context that Dennis Ganzel’s film The Academy of Death immerses us.
Sixteen-year-old Friedrich is not a murderer. He does not dream of conquering the world. All he wants is just to live. Good. Decent. Friedrich understands that there is no other way but to merge with the Nazi structures. Otherwise, you will have to work in a factory like his father. And then there's a chance. Just a lucky ticket.
Friedrich is a good athlete. Boxing. He's getting noticed. He was invited to the National Political Academy, an elite school at that time. “The graduates of this school are considered to be the elite of society and they no longer have to worry about money,” he tells his younger brother and in fact runs from his father, who was against the Hitler regime, to this very academy.
It's not about killing. Not out of revenge. Friedirch just went to the Nazis because this is the regime, because they say the right words, because they gave him the opportunity to play sports and really live. If he stayed with his father, then he would have to forget about sports, there is only boring work in the factory.
This is the line that the authors of the Death Academy give us. That it wasn't evil. People have always been looking for a better life. And agreed to reconciliation with the Hitler regime only for this reason.
I remember the film of a completely different category, but on a close theme, Operation Valkyrie with Tom Cruise. General Olbricht there pronounces a phrase whose meaning is: “I am with you if you succeed.” That is, he was against Hitler’s power, but he did not want to commit a crime and kill the Reich Chancellor. His warm place was more expensive to him.
It was only in that film, because it is American, that it was presented as a disgrace, and in the Academy of Death, because it is European cinema, that it could be explained by a simple banal desire to live a better life. Friedrich, at 16, couldn’t even wash himself – the whole family bathed in the same water. There was no point in getting into a black bath. The Napola Academy had its own showers.
But do not think that the main character has abandoned his moral principles. Yes, he bowed down for personal interests, embraced Hitler's regime. But his morals remained unchanged. At the academy he meets Albrecht - a man from the Gauleiter family, wealthy and very honorable.
Something connects these two guys, although their views seem diametrically opposite. Friedrich dreams of a successful career within the framework of the “system”, appreciates brute physical strength. Albrecht is a talented writer who values truth, sincere feelings, opposes violence and death, is ready even for this to endure hardship and other horrors.
Change these children in the hospital - there was no problem in the film. A man in a factory would have a shaggy, fragile son who would work with him and secretly hate the Hitler regime. And Gauleiter would have a great boxer who would really like to make a career in the SS. But it didn't work out.
Albrecht, under the pressure of his father, not wanting to renounce his sincere convictions, not agreeing with the murders of Nazi Germany, commits suicide. Friedirich breaks it. To the system, he was willing to forgive a lot - almost everything. But not the loss of such honest, sincere, kind and in something really unique people as Albrecht.
The young Friedrich, for disagreement with the system, take all the clothes. What you come in is what you leave. Let it be winter outside. It's not even clear if this guy came home or died. The authors of the picture tell us otherwise.
Until 1945, there were about 40 national political educational institutions in the German Reich. They trained more than 15 thousand teenagers. Fanatically disposed and poorly armed, they offered fierce resistance in days of decisive battles — when the war was effectively lost. Every second one of them died.
Was Frederick to die in the same way? Then it turns out that he made a choice by abandoning the system, because he would not receive any benefits in the future? But did he know that at the time of his expulsion? Did you make the right choice at that time?
Nazi Germany continues to pose unsolvable moral challenges to us.
9 out of 10
For the sake of peace, the world does not shed blood, but lowers weapons.
I like war movies. They're hooking me. When one can save the entire platoon, instill hope in his brothers in arms, defend the country at the cost of his life. But they're just movies. In fact, I am against war and with both hands for peace.
Almost all the war movies I came across glorifying the heroic deeds of Russian soldiers, American but not German. This time there was an opportunity to see a picture (' Academy of Death') about a guy who gets into a special German school, where they are taught various military operations. The main character is from a poor family, and studying in this institution guarantees direct entry into the elite.
Naturally, when offered training, he agrees without listening to his parents. But every day he will know what hell he is in. And perhaps he would have broken under the onslaught of the system, but meeting another guy who absolutely does not understand all this cruelty and war reminds him of the road to go.
Max Riemelt. I’ve liked him for a long time, I’ve seen several movies with him, and there are no complaints about his performance at all. I can say the same about Tom Schilling. They both did very well.
Plot. I believe that this film is to some extent a request for forgiveness from the whole world for Hitler’s actions. It was interesting to look at things from the other side. After all, on the other side of the barricades were not just soulless robots, but also people and children. And most importantly, the film did not show the masculinity of the main characters in battle, at the front, did not show their dedication to the idea. No, the main characters made a choice in favor of peace. And that’s what I always wanted to see in war movies.
Conclusion: I would advise many ' Academy of Death' (and I do).
This is one of my favorite movies.
10 out of 10
I could write a review of a dozen pages praising the work of actors, directors, screenwriters, and another twenty to understand the issues of war and peace, but...
A great movie from the Dead Poets Society series and the like. The young actors played just amazingly believable and lively. This film mixes many different themes: the problem of fathers and children, teenage relationships, the formation of personality and character, friendship and real feelings and some details of wartime. The friendship of Friedrich and Albrecht was touched by its sincerity, again thanks to the excellent acting. It is a pity for Albrecht, who reminded the hero of the Dead Poets Society, and together they personify all young people, teenagers who are unable to resist the parental word and the pressure of adults and who in any case end badly. It often happens that parents do for their children what they once dreamed of, but could not get – such children either become spoiled or not wanting to do what they do not like and even despise (like Albrecht), quietly hate their parents, and again end badly.
But Friedrich liked me from the very first shots, and after the scene with his little brother, he became my favorite hero. The guy knew what he wanted from life, was not afraid of responsibility, fought to the end and defended his own. Sports became a great addition to the formation of his character. Respect athletes.
In general, I didn’t notice any bad shots or bad performances in this film. Quality and interesting. Look at this.
“Academy of Death” is a military drama by German film director Dennis Ganzel, released in 2004.
1942. Germany is at war with the USSR. Friedrich Weimer, a high school graduate, comes from a very poor German family. He loves boxing and wants to do something in life. And one day he has a chance to get out in people: the guy notices the teacher of the elite national-political academy, who invites him to join. But the parents are against the education of their son in this academy, because they do not accept Nazi ideology. However, Frederick, regardless of anything, forges documents and runs away from home to the Academy. Life in the Academy is not the limit of dreams. Ahead of Frederick is a difficult choice: National Socialist ideas or humanity.
The whole plot is built on the development of the worldview and changing the beliefs of the main character - Friedrich Weimer. Watch the movie and feel everything the main character feels. And this despite the fact that in the picture there is not a single sad monologue or high moral instruction. On the screen, everything looks like this story in life. Everything is very realistic and natural, without pathos and preukras.
Great in the film merit actors who literally got used to their roles. Before Max Riemelt (Friedrich Weimer) and Tom Schilling (Albrecht Stein) was set the goal to play so that without boring monologues, the viewer understands what is happening in the soul of the heroes and how their inner world turns over.
A little paradoxical is the storyline of Friedrich, who for the whole film almost did not say a word. Weimer looks more like an outside observer than the main character. Throughout the film, Friedrich follows what is happening around him and draws some conclusions. But the stereotypical image of the hero of the film as a person who always runs somewhere and does something is to blame. It is difficult to call the storyline of Friedrich a drawback of the film, rather it is its dignity.
The only drawback of the film is the unrealistic ending: it is unlikely that everything would end like this. But is it worth paying attention to such a minor flaw, if the whole film turned out to be believable and meaningful?
The main idea of the film in a simple formulation will sound primitive: you must always remain a person. But so primitive theme of the film looks only in abbreviated form. After watching the film, you realize that everything is much more serious than empty words: always remain a person. It is difficult not to follow this principle, it is difficult to reach it through the murder of prisoners of war, through the death of a friend. And Frederick comes to this simple, understandable morality at the cost of intense emotional torment and the cost of the lives of a few people.
The film does not tell about the exploits of people at the front who fought Nazism. The film is dedicated to a feat of another kind. This feat is that Friedrich abandons the brilliant prospects of serving in the Nazi army. He refuses this in the name of humanity and goodness, no matter how pathetic it sounds.
The Academy of Death is open to a very wide audience. Only, this film is better not to watch children under 13, but not because of the cruel scenes, just children will not appreciate the scale of the idea of the film. This work of cinema is sure to turn something in your soul, it will not leave you indifferent.
9 out of 10