@celeste_writes
A patient, formally daring work — the cinematography lingers on empty rooms longer than most audiences will tolerate, but those who stay are rewarded with the most haunting final act of the year.
A group of German boys are ordered to protect a small bridge in their home village during the waning months of the second world war. Truckloads of defeated, cynical Wehrmacht soldiers flee the approaching American troops, but the boys, full of enthusiasm for the "blood and honor" Nazi ideology, stay to defend the useless bridge. The film is based on a West German anti-war novel of the same name, written by Gregor Dorfmeister.
Quick Stats
7.6
TMDB Rating
198
Votes
1h 43m
Runtime
—
Budget
—
Box Office
—
Return
Key Crew
DirectorBernhard Wicki
WriterKarl-Wilhelm Vivier
CinematographyGerd von Bonin
ComposerWilli Schwadorf
EditorCarl Otto Bartning
Production DesignPeter Scharff
Produced by
Fono FilmTaurus Produktion
Where to Watch
Streaming
Netflix
HBO MaxBuy
Apple iTunesSee more on TMDB → JustWatch
Critics & Reviews
3 featured@jhalberg
I walked in expecting another genre exercise and walked out feeling like I'd been eavesdropping on a confession. The lead performance is genuinely singular — a career-defining turn.
@priya_a
A few too many scenes feel borrowed from a better film, but the soundtrack and the production design carry the rest. Solid recommendation for fans of slow-burn European thrillers.
Cast
Folker Bohnet
Hans Scholten
Fritz Wepper
Albert Mutz
Michael Hinz
Walter Forst
Frank Glaubrecht
Jurgen Borchert
K
Karl Michael Balzer
Karl Horber
Volker Lechtenbrink
Klaus Hager
Günther Hoffmann
Sigi Bernhard
Cordula Trantow
Franziska
Wolfgang Stumpf
Stern
Günter Pfitzmann
Heilmann
Heinz Spitzner
Fröhlich
Siegfried Schürenberg
Lieutenant Colonel
Ruth Hausmeister
Frau Mutz
E
Eva Vaitl
Frau Borchert
Edith Schultze-Westrum
Mutter Bernhard
