UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Izzy Adkins The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Armand a Nazi story. gentle and cruel, in same measure. a young man. his dream. a way. and the price. more than image of a youth organization, it is fresco of evil seduction. and chronicle of limits front to real values. result - a beautiful film. not only for performance of actors, for script or for realism of image. but for flavor after its end. it is a part of courageous German cinema work for define past out of precise definitions. for explore the essence, the seed, the heart of a nightmare who was, for its period, only a dream.it is a delicate operation this confrontation with dark ghosts. but it must be realized. for understand. for the honest verdict. as challenge. or warning. because the past is a puzzle of nuances. nothing else. the colors are only frame. but not the picture.

scripted2000 Tightly written, lyrically executed and superbly acted. The cinematography and scoring are spectacular. The portrayal of the students at the Academy is believable and poignantly played out; it's what the actors emote between the wonderfully economical dialogue that grabs at your heartstrings and puts a lump in your throat. Max Riemelt is masterfully cast as the clean cut, hard working, teen-aged Friedrich. Friedrich ennobles himself to us from the get-go with his tenderness toward his younger brother and his quickness to shield his boxing friends from harm's way. Later he becomes acutely aware what needs to be done to survive and thrive in his new elite school, yet he ultimately feels honour bound to follow his moral heart.It is wonderful to see stories about the quiet resistance of German citizens and would-be soldiers caught in the maw of the Nazi war machine finally coming to the fore. There are likely many such accounts that got lost because they ended tragically or because we weren't yet ready to hear about them. The only missing thread I would have really loved to see is a romantic interlude between Friedrich and Katarina, where she comforts him after the training manoeuvre in the forest. Her apartment, a bubble bath, schnapps... Nonetheless it's brilliant without a love story. You don't need to be boxing enthusiast or a WWII history buff to take in this movie. It's all about making challenging life choices for betterment juxtaposed with doing the right thing. Rent this movie or buy it. You'll want to watch it more than just once!

rdugrandbois This is a truly outstanding film. Sharp but sensitive directing, fabulous photography and first rate acting propels Napola into main stream class. It's not really about the Hitler Youth, even though the makers have chosen to use the setting, but more about the essence of innate pacifism that seems to pervade some individuals more than others. And it delves into the logical power of that spirit to influence others and steer them away from the madness of brutality.The unspoken love between the two central characters is beautifully interwoven with the central idea and we are left with a profound sense of sadness that our human race could ever allow the agony of war to occur.This is a film you really must see - and followers of handsome young men will not be disappointed with the actors portraying our two heroes, Albrecht and Friederich.

Tom Erik Høiås this movie tells the story of German youth. in the year 1942 the Nazis are at the peak of their power. but it is not just war, the Nazis are up to lots of different things. like creating an elite of arian top trained men, brainwashed in to believing whatever they are being told. i was intrigued by this movie, because i cant imagine the terror and strict upbringing of these young men. but they where the elite, and in the elite there is no time for sympathy or mercy. "if you die you are weak". the few men that does not buy in to the propaganda that is being fed to them are considered outcasts. those that actually understand that the Nazis are the evil side. this is a very interesting subject of history that i haven't seen a lot of, therefore the film is.. in my opinion original and entertaining.