Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 03/31/06 (St. Louis) Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Not Rated Running Time 1 hour 50 minutes Genre Drama, Foreign Film Director Michael Caton-Jones Writer Leora Barish, Henry Bean Cast Max Riemelt, Tom Schilling, Michael Schenk, Justus Von Dohnanyi, Devid Striesow Studio Picture This! |
BEFORE THE FALL (2006)
SYNOPSIS
Berlin 1942. Friedrich (Max Riemelt), is a
sixteen-year old amateur boxer from a working
class family, who dreams of doing something with
his life. His big chance comes when he's
discovered at a boxing match by a young man who
teaches at an elite Nazi National Political School, or
Napola. The young man helps Friedrich to enter the
institution, and there becomes Friedrich's mentor,
guiding him through the rigors of the strictly run
school. Among Friedrich's new friends is Albrecht
(Tom Schilling), the son of a high-ranking official. A
fragile young man who prefers to train his mind
rather than his body, Albrecht is critical of the Nazi
ideology being crammed into the students' minds.
Friedrich starts to see that there is no room here
for anyone unwilling to follow the party line. After the
students are forced to take part in a nighttime
massacre of unarmed Russian youths in the nearby
woods, Albrecht writes an essay condemning the
Germans' barbarity. Friedrich knows that his best
friend is on a collision course with the authorities,
but is powerless to change his mind. When
Albrecht's father forces his son to take back his
words, Albrecht refuses - and accepts the
consequences. Devastated, Friedrich vows to
avenge his friend's fate, even if it means losing
everything he's fought for and abandoning his
dream of a better life.
--© Picture This! Entertainment
Berlin 1942. Friedrich (Max Riemelt), is a
sixteen-year old amateur boxer from a working
class family, who dreams of doing something with
his life. His big chance comes when he's
discovered at a boxing match by a young man who
teaches at an elite Nazi National Political School, or
Napola. The young man helps Friedrich to enter the
institution, and there becomes Friedrich's mentor,
guiding him through the rigors of the strictly run
school. Among Friedrich's new friends is Albrecht
(Tom Schilling), the son of a high-ranking official. A
fragile young man who prefers to train his mind
rather than his body, Albrecht is critical of the Nazi
ideology being crammed into the students' minds.
Friedrich starts to see that there is no room here
for anyone unwilling to follow the party line. After the
students are forced to take part in a nighttime
massacre of unarmed Russian youths in the nearby
woods, Albrecht writes an essay condemning the
Germans' barbarity. Friedrich knows that his best
friend is on a collision course with the authorities,
but is powerless to change his mind. When
Albrecht's father forces his son to take back his
words, Albrecht refuses - and accepts the
consequences. Devastated, Friedrich vows to
avenge his friend's fate, even if it means losing
everything he's fought for and abandoning his
dream of a better life.
--© Picture This! Entertainment
BRENDA AND DAVID
It is 1942 and Friedrich Weimer (Max Riemelt) is a seventeen year old amateur boxer who is spotted by
Henrich Vogler (David Striesow), an instructor at Napola (National-Political Institutes of Learning)
School, during a boxing contest. Friedrich see this as his ticket out of working in a factory as a labor
but his father refuses to sign the papers for the Nazi military school. Friedrich forges his father's
signature and leaves homes to attend the school. His roommates are Siegried Gladen (Martin Geores),
a bed wetter who is constantly humilated by his instructor, and Albrecht Stein (Tom Schilling), the
sensitive son of Heinrich Stein (Justus Vob Dohnanyi), a high ranking official. This school shows no
mercy for the weak or sensitive, only the strong will survive. Before the Fall directed by Dennis Gansel
is an outstanding coming of age film with notable performances by Riemelt and Schilling.
It is 1942 and Friedrich Weimer (Max Riemelt) is a seventeen year old amateur boxer who is spotted by
Henrich Vogler (David Striesow), an instructor at Napola (National-Political Institutes of Learning)
School, during a boxing contest. Friedrich see this as his ticket out of working in a factory as a labor
but his father refuses to sign the papers for the Nazi military school. Friedrich forges his father's
signature and leaves homes to attend the school. His roommates are Siegried Gladen (Martin Geores),
a bed wetter who is constantly humilated by his instructor, and Albrecht Stein (Tom Schilling), the
sensitive son of Heinrich Stein (Justus Vob Dohnanyi), a high ranking official. This school shows no
mercy for the weak or sensitive, only the strong will survive. Before the Fall directed by Dennis Gansel
is an outstanding coming of age film with notable performances by Riemelt and Schilling.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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