Die Brücke

Even on a second viewing, my initial rating remained unchanged. Not that the film is beyond critique, but in this instance, the content was more important than the form for me. Each part of the movie had its own strengths; the first half depicted a carefree life amidst the pervasive war, with some amusing scenes. The tone shifted in the second half, abandoning levity and humor. German introspection gave rise to a subtly powerful anti-war film, weaving together a narrative of unfortunate events, youthful zeal, and mass indoctrination leading to an inevitable outcome. While I have a keen interest in history, particularly war-related events, it's not to revel in the glory that war can offer — becoming a hero, showing bravery, and earning fame and respect. On the contrary, each historical fact reinforces my belief that war is an abomination, where ideals perish alongside the would-be heroes. War, from my perspective, is merely a mechanism for widespread death and mutilation, with those orchestrating it rarely facing the consequences in their bunkers. / Lesson learned: It's there in the film, you can't miss it. (13.07.2022)

I don't even know how this movie came to me, but I'm very glad about it. It's an incredibly powerful story about how boys end up in a war. But this isn't just a button war, they went straight into World War II and are looking forward to fighting for their country. Some scenes are unbelievably strong and surprisingly naturalistic. (11.06.2015)

Of course, Most is far from a perfect film. Those who want to can point out the weaker moments of inexperienced actors and the slower start, as well as the uneven pace. On the other hand, it deals with an exceptionally strong anti-war theme and there are very few films that have moved me emotionally as much as this one has. Those who want to can also point out that modern war films have more special effects and are more spectacular. But at the time of its creation, Most was an extraordinary artistic achievement that, even after almost half a century, is still worth seeing. It contains a number of powerful scenes, absurd situations, and crucial dialogues. When compared to modern war films, such as those about the Gulf War, I can only give it five stars. Overall impression: 90%. (17.10.2007)