Good story, Not enough for a whole film

An absolute waste of money

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

This is every bit as disturbing a film as "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and one that should give every viewer pause regarding it's theme of man's capacity for inhumanity in the name of country and it's misguided leaders. This idea is chillingly represented by various scenes throughout the movie, but in case you don't get it, it's effectively reinforced by the Commandant of the Napola School who instructs his youthful audience that their bodies belong to Germany and The Fuhrer. With an indoctrination like that, it's not too difficult to understand how most young men selected for these Nazi elite schools would find it convenient to go along and get along with the prevailing ideology.For those who bear some personal responsibility for their actions, life under these extreme conditions becomes impossible. The suicides of Siegfried Gladen (Martin Goeres) and Albrecht Stein (Tom Schilling) underscore their personal torment and impossibility of escaping the physical and mental torture prevalent in their day to day existence. One is forced to consider - were these young men simply weak or were they instead the ones showing true courage and bravery in the face of unrelenting fascism.There's one particular scene that embodies the horror of the Nazi machine. When Friedrich's (Max Riemelt) junior class is called upon to track down escaped Russian prisoners of war, we come to find out that they were mere children, gunned down in the darkness by the Napola elite. As the critically wounded boy tended by Albrecht begins to die, a single snowflake drifts peacefully into his eye, melting in harmony with the boy's spirit which mercifully drifts away.There's one event in the picture I'm still thinking about and wondering why it wasn't addressed. During the session with the grenades, when the scared student fails to throw his weapon, the terrified trainer runs away. How is it he escaped reprimand for not living up to the ideals of Nazi ideology by sacrificing himself for his students? His action best illustrates how tyrants truly behave when faced with their own mortality, ideology be damned.

I really liked this movie about a Nazi school for boys/young men.First of all, there is always something intriguing about the uniforms and the hails and the atmosphere of Hitler Germany. There are moments of great emotion, for example the first day of school when the top Nazi gives a speech about how The Thousand Year Reich needs many leaders, not just in Berlin, but in Moscow, Washington and Cape Town. He tells them they need to be strong. They reply by all rising up at the same time and singing a song about heroism and National Socialism. Friedrich, the protagonist, smiles and can barely hold himself while singing. It seems he has come home where he belongs.However, the film unveils how difficult it is for some if ALL are supposed to conform and fit into a mold. There are painful scenes, for example a few involving a cadet who wets himself in bed. He gets punished in the worst way, and it all ends in tragedy. The real irony is how the school board takes advantage of what happens. Very powerful and revealing.The son of the local Governor also has a hard time fitting in. He is artistic, not really into sports and he struggles with the inhuman ideology of Nazism. He and Friedrich tie a strong bond, and it all ends in tragedy. This is also very powerful.I liked the actors and the script. It was very believable.

This movie does an excellent job of portraying why so many intelligent people in Germany would have listened to and believed in such a cruel regime.The film superbly shows us just how inviting an elitist Nazi school would seem at first to a simple, innocent working-class boy. The character development is excellent; we see how situations and people open Friedrich's eyes and make him realize the faults of his government authorities. The actors all do a magnificent job, especially Max Riemelt and Tom Schilling. The director and storyline do an wonderful job of capturing emotions and events in the movie through the eyes of the two protagonists.The camera-work and soundtrack also work well to give the film definite character and atmosphere.

A breath taking movie seen, though it was with German sub-titles it captures the heart. Though some view it as a Gay oriented, it is not so, the director clears the boys Friedrich & Albrecht NOT labeling as gay by showing them peeping through the window to see Katharina. It shows the relationship between boys as nothing more than a true faithful brotherly friendship. There are no notable nude scenes other than you would expect in an Army School. This movie shows the true picture of Nazism, gay topic is used to show the dark side of the Nazi leaders.