Oscars 2023: How Germany Translates History into Oscars Success
The anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front has won four Oscars in 2023, making it the most successful German film in the history of the Academy Awards. The film took the top prize in the categories Best International Film, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Music. Four trophies, its quite an accomplishment, one that only three other foreign productions have managed to date.
The history of German Oscar winners goes back to 1929. And the recipe for success has been unwavering. Time and again, it is stories with a direct connection to German history that are successful in Hollywood: Filmmakers score points with stories revolving around WWI and WWII or with a critical examination of GDR history, as in the 2006 drama, The Lives of Others.
Germans also repeatedly celebrate success in the dream factory with Oscars for production design, film music or special effects. All Quiet on the Western Front taking home four Oscars is surely also due to the fact that the film describes the horror of war in a certain timeless and unsparing way . The parallels to the war in Ukraine are frightening, despite 100 years between the two events. On this episode of Arts Unveiled we explore the triumph of the film team behind All Quiet on the Western Front and retrace the history of Germany's Oscar winners.
#oscars2023 #dwhistoryandculture #hollywood
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Sadly german cinema is broken with stupid comedies. I hope this film will rise the german cinema again.
I completely agree. It looks like the talents are there, but then again, when funding comes from the well-known supposed art supporting institutions, it seems like they decided already what to script and who (again) will be the actors and producers. Unwatchable.
You will not get people into cinemas with war stories, especially if it centers around the dark past. People like to to to the movies to enjoy themselves. A war movie is not entertainment!
Til Schweiger sends his regards :))))
yeah, because only those get funding. they are consistently mediocre- which means risk of failure is low
Germans know how to laugh?
This movie is a rare piece of art with a powerful message, everyone should have the opportunity of watching it.
Should be required in high school for *Americans* .
@@DSAK55 with all due respect but your comment shows me why some should see several times that movie or read the book in order to get the message and some will never get it.That movie talks about human beings regardless the citizenships.your comment shows exactly why we have wars.
i already watched it 10 years ago
Im german and watched it with my friends in the cinema without watching a trailer or anything beforehand. Having a completly silent movie theatre after the film was a whole new experience to me. Nobody was willing/able to say a word.
The Germans are really good at making war movies like "Das Boot", "Downfall" , "Stalingrad" and now this.
We do not romanticise war. We want to show it how it was, especially as our grand and grand-grand parents pretty much stayed silent to us about their wartime experiences and we had to reconstruct it via historians, books, tv series and movies.
Maybe it is accepted only from those who where deeply involved. What I do not understand is that the first movie “Im Westen nichts Neues “won an Oscar as best movie!!! almost 100 years ago!
@@selini52 it did not, it won just recently, but the original book was from 1928 not the movie itself.
Das Boot is great, Downfall and All Quiet is not even close.
I'd guess it's a lot to do with inherited traum really. However, what about "Lola Rennt", "Bang Boom Bang", "Papa Ante Portas" (humour...), "Angst Essen Seele Auf", "Die Unendliche Geschichte", etc. pp.?? Also, I wonder how an LA test audience would have reacted to "Die Brücke", actually as early as in 1959.
The first time that I saw this film, the score got me hooked. Then, the sequences of recycled uniform got me interested into the Production Design. Strikingly beautiful. Third, as the film went on, scenes in the countrysides and wide shots of the battlefield, with the actor standing on a beautiful backdrop gave me goosebumps, the Cinematography is amazing. No wonder it won Best International Film because of the story and all its components not to mention, the brilliant acting. This is a masterpiece.
The better field reminds me of A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT by jean Pier Jeunet
Well german critics see this movie rather differently
As an American, I say *PRAISE GERMAN CINEMA* All Quiet on the Western Front Downfall The Baader Meinhof Complex The White Ribbon Stalingrad Toni Erdmann Das Boot Fabian: Going to the Dogs A Coffee in Berlin Westfront 1918
The White Ribbon is Austrian 😊
-Das Leben der Anderen(the life of others) -Die Vermessung der Welt(measuring the world) -Systemsprenger(system crasher) They are totally worth watching
Paris Texas Buena Vista Social Club The Million Dollar Hotel The American Friend
Proud of Germany 🇩🇪 love ❤️ from India 🇮🇳. Das Boot n Alls Quiet on the Western Front both my favorite War movies 🎬 till date. Personally Anti War n pray for World peace
You haven't watched other fantastic German movies like Sophie Scholl- The final days, the Lives of others, The Counterfeiters, Nowhere in Africa, Goodbye Lenin??
Was really happy for RRR to win best song ❤️
Thanks! That Naatu Naatu dance scene was also legendary 🤝
Ur a real G for naming Das Boot, best war movie of all time
Das Boot was ahead of its time. The most authentic movie and you can almost smell the submarine crew while watching
The Germans dont need big hollywood money to make a great flic. TY!
Um, throw some mone at it and you get things like the Ramstein videos. Or "All Quiet on the Western Front".
@@peter_meyer No comparison
It was fundet by Netflix so the budget wasn‘t that small
Why wasn`t it released in theaters?
Exactly
The cinematography in this film is astounding! Reminds me of another WWI film masterpiece -- 1917. I do admire Germany for taking accountability for its role in both wars. We could only wish other countries would do the same. Where can I find and watch this film from America? Also love Deutsche Welle btw!
Sure German takes accountability, more than they have to actually. They got dragged into WW1 because they were allies with Austria. When the War was over, they got all the blame and the entire Country was then (economically) destroyed by the Winners for no Reason. Which resulted in the poor and desperate Climate in the Country that allowed Hitler to rise up in the first place.
Is this film not on american Netflix? It's a Netflix exclusive in germany
Run Lola run was the first German movie I ever seen and it is such an iconic and impressive film. It is still one of my favorite movies.
go see Cloud Atlas
I named my daughter Lola after watching this movie 22 yrs ago. 😊
13:55 She is saying her baby fell "todkrank", which translates to terminally ill, not just ill. It would have been more respectful to translate her actual meaning.
Everytime I see Ulrich Mühe my heart drops... I really miss him. He was such a great actor ♥
I think von Donnersmarck's film "Never look away" ("Werk ohne Autor" in German) is an outstandig movie that really got me. Just an excellent piece of art with wonderful actors and great storytelling. My favourite of all Henckel von Donnersmarck films so far.
Saw it again only recently, really a great movie! The end always gets me.
Life of the others is also very good
same here!
Brilliant film. One of the best I have seen in the last ten years.
My favorite German movies are "Goodbye Lenin" and "Commercial Man".
Daniel Brühls Scenes are brilliant
As a Filipino🇵🇭 who loves European History I am proud of you Germany🇩🇪 and it's people that this movie was made cause WW1 is also one of my favourite historical events. LOVE THIS MOVIE
With the utmost certainty I can tell you that neither WW1 nor WW2 are the "favourite historical events" of us Germans.
@@grishashipulina4904 yeah I kind of understand that the Germans hated the WW1 and WW2 history
@@AnimeKing-xj2xl I doubt that.
20 million deaths and 21 million wounded and it is your favourite historical events ? And DW liked your comments ? This is bad.
Fatih Akin is my favorite german film director. His films are quite the opposite of german war heavy and stereotyped motion pictures; subtle and reflective, focusing on cultural differences instead of cliche driven images. Kind of like the german Cuarón.
Realy ?? No Stereotyping ???? Habibi kommst du klar 😉😚
But he mostly makes films about immigrants. He should also deal with other topics. 6-7 years ago I saw an interview with him, he said he wants to do a vampire movie. In the end he rejected it
He's turkish, you m0r0n.
@@inotoni6148 He also did "Der Goldene Handschuh", not about Immigrants but a disturbing movie about the serial killer Fritz Honka.
Easy to see why a german of turkish heritage does many movies about imigrants - and he (mostly) does it pretty well.
Epic movie. A war movie without heroes and glorification like in hollywood
The brilliance of German cinema stamps again on world stage!!
What do you mean. This was the first well produced German movie in years in my opinion :D
@@icyelsa9747 "again" Hollywood would look different without Germans!
@@icyelsa9747 As a German, I confirm. We are really not the standard in consistency when it comes to good (international) movies!
@@icyelsa9747 How about the Movie "Never look away", "Baumbacher Syndrome" or "Oh Boy" ? There is more potential for german producers then making another anti war movie like so many times before 😮💨
@@icyelsa9747 Historically Germany basically invented Cinema in the 20s. It might come from France, but it became what it is in Germany. Then also New German cinema of the 60s to 80s was outstanding. There are still many good german movies each year - just not mainstream ones
Nosferatu and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari does not get the love it deserves.
"Die Feuerzangenbowle", is probalbay the german film I've watched the most (every Year once in between Chrismas and New Year)
That Score was amazing and hauntingly draws you in at the beginning as the cinematography takes you from the quiet in the early morning forest with the mama fox with its babies in its den/foxhole, then to the frozen battlefield with the dead all laying upon it, to the trenches, to the uniforms being collected, fixed, washed and then recycled with the new soldiers/ troops replacing the dead. The way the score starts out in the beginning - loud, and by the end its softer and we/ from the POV of Paul, numbed out by the sheer horror of what war is.
A Masterpiece. Tough to watch. But authenthc to the letter. Showing the November 9-11 1918 Armistice talks was brilliant.
My favorite German film is mostly Martha. It has a happy ending. The life if others was very well acted and I learned a lot about East German history. And I liked the ending. Run Lola Run also was very good.
If German TV would now take notes when it comes to the interview of Erich Maria Remarque done bei Friedrich Luft and go back to that kind of respectful interview and discussion then that'd be a big step in the right direction.
The german Edgar Wallace movies are absolutly brilliant
There is one movie that i encountered by accident and to my disbelief never really got the international acknowledgement it deserved. Its called Fog in Auhust ("Nebel im August") and it is an amazing, yet sad movie.
Von Donnersmark's "Lives" had a great impact on me, I must have watched it over 30 times I guess, but I wanted to curse him when I saw his name at the end credits of the movie, Tourist. Such a great movie director coming up with lousy screenplay with Hollywood talents. At least I felt, "Never Look Away" was more like an apologetic comeback of a great director.
No mention of Herzog?
Das Boot. To answer your question.
good mention!!
congratulations Germany from Brazil. great film.
What is funny is that this movie got pulled to pieces by German media and critics for being bad when it got released. The main reason was that half of the book was cut or altered and more action scenes got added to appeal to a more modern audiance.
Half the book? More like 80% of the book. The movie should be called "Based on motives from the Novel". I watched it the night of the Oscars and I totally understand why the german critics shredded this movie. It's a complete failure as an adaptation. And I have no clue why the english and american critics didn't see that as well. Probably because they all don't know the book, whereas the majority of german critics had probably read the book as part of school curriculum.
@@Quotenwagnerianer indeed, i agree... not a bad film on its own, bit cliche at the end... really the end pulls it down a lot - and all the best scenes from the book were missing
I think it was mistake to cut the part where Paul goes back home on furlough and is disillusioned by the naivité at home the people thinking that the war is still winnable and not having any idea what the soldiers in the trenches have to endure. he realizes then that this is a place he can never go back to. I think that is a vital part in the development of the protagonist and should have been handled as such!
@@alexaales7937 I agree. But that was already botched in the start because they didn't include the scene with the army veterans were Paul is swayed to join. Which is then later mirrored by the scene were he tries to warn the young men at school to not join instead of giving a rousing patriotic speech and they call him a defetist and traitor for it. If you turn the book into a movie and leave that out, you should not even bother to begin filming.
@@alexaales7937 I could not agree more. I read the book many, many years ago, and that particular part in the book has stuck with me until today. Mr. Remarque's books are all fantastic, and I wished some of them were part of the curriculum in US schools. But sadly, I think they don't read books at all anymore. At least that is my impression.
After finishing watching it just now i can proudly confirm that this is the best war film I have watched in my entire life. The dark and realistic tune of the film shatters dreams of idealistic youngsters who glorified war in the movie, brings stronger anti-war message than most Hollywood movies, including saving private Ryan, 1917, Dunkirk, black hawk dawn, war horse and etc.
it's probably one of the few true "Anti-War" movies just as you say
I have watched this movie the very first day when it was released on Netflix India and was stunned by its visuals n cinematography shure they deserve Oscar for this 🎉
This movie is iconic, the acting, the photography, the music, the mood and the story. This movie will make movie history. While it has been filmed before in the 30ties and 90ties, this is a true Gem. I hope Ed Berger will do Stalingrad. That one too has seen a few movies but I am sure an in-depth story with this same kind of filming would be incredible.
..and nobody wanz to see this trash again.
I think it needs to be addressed that All Quiet on the Western Front isn't a "war film" - it is violently ANTI war (just like the book), therefore making it an "anti-war film".
Every war film is pro-war film. Anti-war sentiment could arise if there is only a war it is against for
A war film cannot be preo war. If you ever have laid on the ground with your rifle at 2°C you start to imagine that war is not like this hero movies.
@marco21274 "... as Sheila Kunkle has pointed out, every war film is a prowar film. No matter how negatively a film depicts a war, the carnage inevitably links to war’s hidden appeal." - Enjoying What We Don't Have, p.151 Why bother showering with awards the spectacle of violence of the war being depicted then? Why then the filmmakers feel the need to make profits out of showcasing how "brutal" and "horrific" war experience is?
@@AndikaRPutra-hl7ix Then Sheila Kunkle must've been a dumb person, because that is an exceptionally bad take. By that logic every Workplace safety video becomes a pro work related accident piece, glorifying people getting hurt on their Job. "No matter how negatively a film depicts a war, the carnage inevitably links to war’s hidden appeal" Also spoken like a true psychopath. What "hidden" appeal is there in War? I bet she never specifies that.
@@CedricBassman sure, let's compare war with workplace safety situations 😂
And now give "Das Boot" an Oscar too
Jost Vacano should have won for best cinematography for 'Das Boot', that was a masterpiece depicting life on a submarine, during war time, mind you!
Some research would be very nice! The composer's name is Volker Bertelmann.
Best WW1 movie is still A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, by Audrey T and the late Gaspard Ulielle + many great actors. The yellow hue in this German film reminds me of that.
Congratulations, All quiet on the western front is art!!!
Goodbye lenin is one of the all time best films. There are many more like The downfall , the edukators... Ultimate film making...
Wim Wenders ' Der Himmel über Berlin Wings of desire
Das Leben der Anderen
So glad All Quiet won something at the Oscars. I adore this film very much
Ironically enough, it was WWI that sent so much of German cinema talent to Hollywood
This is a Great movie!!!👍 It was hard for me to watch this movie! germans know how to make films!!!
Yeah, we Germs get international awards for stuff like that. Because we have excelled in historical self-criticism like no other nation. Der Untergang, Das Leben der Anderen, Das Boot... It is kind of bittersweet to me. Ah, time for some lighthearted "Killer Condom".
You want to watch a brillant german war movie?? „Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter“ its the best if you like to see different perspectives and not only (!) blood and guns.
Yes unsere Mütter, unsere Väter is awesome. For the international audience the title was renamed Generation War. At least there are English subtitles. For me much better than all quite on the western front.
My favourite German film The Lives of Others
This was an extraordinary film. I watched Women Talking 2 days later and the combined grief nearly broke me.
Brilliant films from my two favourite countries dominated the Oscars in 2020 and 2023.
Congratulations 🎉🎉well deserved 👍👍❤️❤️
Germany has always given greatest cinemas to the world... starting with Murnau,lang,Herzog,Wenders, Fassbinder........In art Germany is a Hope of Europe.... History has stained them
I don't know about the Oscar for the original score
I enjoyed the tango music to The Counterfeiters
Would have loved to see the tussle for the best international film among AQOTWF ,RRR and decision to leave
Never look away, Aus dem Nichts, All Quiet are masterpieces in their own right!
To see Zemo argue for peace in a senseless war is his full redemption arc from being a soldier and trying to kill the Avengers.
I always ❤German movies one of them “Der Geilste Tag” is a very nice movie and entertaining and enjoyable…never regretted when watching German movies any kind of its
Where is hans landa?
Would be great to once win with a film, that is not about war....
Well done Germany..those who have reached rock bottom are honest and avoid hypocrisy ..youre winning the moral war with yourselves and giving the rest of us an example in humility (a Brit )
I am biased because I am fan of Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan but if this movie won the Oscar, I wouldn't be upset. This was great movie and in a just world, it should have won the best picture.
The Americans don't give out their "Best Picture" Oscar to another nation.
Aguirre , the Wrath of God from 1972 was a German -Mexican production
well done Deutschland!!
The blue angel ❤
That's about the 1.War, my grand grand father was in first war!!
The movie is great, everything is top notch.
This is a winning film & stunning camera works. Forget about that stupid Oscar.
Read the book, it’s one of the most emotional looks into the cruelty of the Great War…
Friedhof des Lebens und der Hoffnung!
"Be fair to your opponent or this peace will be hated." Foreshadowing.
This success is only possible when Til Schweiger and Matthias Schweighöfer aren't part of the movie.
Yes 100 % 🤣
Unless Till isn't talking like in inglorious basterds 😅, then it's fine.
i felt empty and discusting after the filim... and that makes it a great anti war movie
“War is primarily not about victory or defeat but about death and the infliction of death. It represents the total failure of the human spirit" - Robert Fisk (RIP)
Anyone thinking the boy from the tin drum looks a bit like the boy from jojo rabbit? 15:59
I'de like more German historical film that were set during the XIX or the Age of Enlighment. What we got from pop culture is mostly Germany during the Great War period up till 1960s. Like Germany as a folk did not exist previous to its unification. In fact the unifaction itself would be a good mini series.
Well Germans as a folk existed, but not in a single unified nation state
I literally didnt know this was a german film and I am german. when a good movie comes out I immediately assume its bot a german one. usually the stuff we get are just stupid romantic comedies with the same jokes and actors again and again and again. Im glad this piece of art was made in my home country. (I wish we could make internationally recognised movies that arent about our war ridden history for once, but I take what I can get).
a famous question in German tests for the A level's is if the main character in the book "All quiet on the Western Front" is victim or perpetrator where you have to reason your decision. It is mostly about explaining your point of view, reflecting on this Anti-War book. For some he is a victim of the national pride, propaganda and pathos and for others he might be the perpetrator as a soldier who kills others for a country that invades and causes many men to fall on both sides.
So well deserved! Should have deserved even more Oscars. Sadly The Banshees … has been totally ignored. Masterpiece though! Hollywood preferred the loud hectic Asian actors and cinema.
We have so many great German films. Let's start with: * Nosferatu * M * Die Brücke * Angst essen Seele auf * Das Boot * Pappas Ante Portas * Das Wunder von Bern * Der Totmacher * Die Feuerzangenbowle (1944) * Good Bye Lenin * Wer früher stirbt, ist länger tot * Der Untergang Und ich habe wahrscheinlich viele vergessen.
Oder relativ aktuelle wie Oh Boy, Werk ohne Autor, Baumbacher Syndrom... bei "das Wunder von Bern" gehe ich allerdings nicht mit. Great war der eher nicht. Aber gut Geschmackssache.
I quite enjoyed the zombie film "Endzeit." A much different spin than the zombie films state-side. I'll add "Run Lola Run" to your list too!
Maybe add Sonnenallee and Gegen die Wand. Kirschblüten Hanami really got me as well. Alles auf Zucker, Schlafes Bruder, Die Unberührbar… tbc
But why did they changed the name? It’s „Im Westen nichts Neues“. Behind that name is a message. All quite on the western front is okay but not the same, not even the same translation.
Actually it is the same meaning
@@m.r4841 yes I made some research. It’s the same meaning but not the same translation. Also „Im westen nichts neues“ has two meanings which I switched up
"Authenticity" has become the kind of impediment to filmmaking that photorealism was to painting. You always admire the technique, but it takes away from the soul of things. AQOTWF felt like film makers succumbed to the worst aspects of one-upmanship in order to try and outdo both Paths of Glory and Come and See at the same time. I think they failed. The excision of the chapter(s) about Paul's leave to visit his family is a mistake, because it deprives the character of depth. This part of the novel also illustrates the experience of what would come to be known as PTSD, when trying to cope with the banality of civilian life. The addition of the subplot about negotiations for the conditions of an armistice is problematic in the way it depicts French officers as only vindictive and arrogant. The ending of the film is a downright 180 from the novel and, in the way it subverts the novel's delivery of the message regarding the way an individual's death is rendered meaningless by such barbarism, ultimately unforgivable. Competent as a war movie, ambivalent as an anti-war movie, unsuccessful as a literary adaptation.
I have read the book several times and no film, with the rare exceptions you mentioned, came even close to the horror of war. They are rather quiet films, like "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo, which show all the agonizing misery of war and do without any "action" at all. It is what a war leaves behind that reveals its horrors, not how it happens. One almost catches oneself admiring an actor's athletic performance more than his play revealing any secrets about the enigma of war. Ich habe das Buch mehrere Male gelesen und kein Film, bis auf die raren Ausnahmen, die du nanntest, kamen dem Schrecken des Krieges nur ansatzweise näher. Es sind eher stille Filme wie „Johnny Got His Gun“ von Dalton Trumbo, die das ganze quälende Elend eines Krieges zeigen und ganz ohne „Action“ auskommen. Das, was ein Krieg hinterlässt, offenbart seine Schrecken, nicht wie er geschieht. Man ertappt sich fast dabei, dass man mehr die sportliche Leistung eines Schauspielers bewundert, als dass sein Spiel irgendwelche Geheimnisse über das Rätsel Krieg offenbart.
I looked into it than started the better original.
We are ALL supposed to have learned from this ...
war movies never get old
Ngl, the comments by the Music composer are so ironic as hes in the USA where thats such a common theme in their movies
My favorite German film is "Good Bye Lennin!"
Der Hauptmann
Trauma is in the German souls
1:15 Everybody should have understood by now that Germany did not start WW1 and was not resesponsible more than every other side. Director just fishes for compliments.
War movies are the only genre that would get us an oscar though.
Favourite German movie ever? Tough choice. You have: Stalingrad, the aforementioned Das Boot and All Quiet on the Western Front, M, Metropolis, Downfall to name a few. I watch Das Boot at least once every six months. M with Peter Lorre is fantastic and virtually forgotten as it was made in the 30s. Stalingrad still holds up today and Metropolis is a masterpiece again from the 30s but because it was a silent film people don’t bring it up a lot anymore. There’s just a few. And that’s not even mentioning Werner Hertzog films lol! I recommend them all.
I think German war films are not trying to bring you to choose a side like american war movies
The best German Film is "Ballermann 6". It bases loosely on the Spanish civil war.
Haha
Manta Manta and voll normal are also German classic Masterpieces .So underrated
Will the academy like our movies if we’d stop beating us up? No, I don’t think so.
Wegen die Welt ich thinke
I made it one and a half minute through this thing.
As a reminder the 1 ww wasn startet by germany it was Austria an germany was just an allie so the thankspeech is wrong in detail
Good bye Lenin! Amazing film
Slava Ukrainia ✊🏼❤️