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  • 2005
  • Picture This! Entertainment
  • 1 h 50 m
  • 2005
  • Picture This! Entertainment
  • 1 h 50 m
Before the Fall

Summary As Hitler launches the first major military aggressions of World War II, the strongest and smartest German young men enter exclusive schools known as "Napolas" to train as future leaders of the Third Reich. In 1942, a recruiter from one such Napola sets his sights on Friedrich, a talented adolescent boxer, who sees the training and prest...

Directed By: Dennis Gansel

Written By: Maggie Peren, Dennis Gansel

  • 2005
  • Picture This! Entertainment
  • 1 h 50 m
  • 2005
  • Picture This! Entertainment
  • 1 h 50 m

Before the Fall

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews
65
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 9 User Ratings
7.2
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary As Hitler launches the first major military aggressions of World War II, the strongest and smartest German young men enter exclusive schools known as "Napolas" to train as future leaders of the Third Reich. In 1942, a recruiter from one such Napola sets his sights on Friedrich, a talented adolescent boxer, who sees the training and prest...

Directed By: Dennis Gansel

Written By: Maggie Peren, Dennis Gansel

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews
65
72% Positive
13 Reviews
28% Mixed
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews
65
72% Positive
13 Reviews
28% Mixed
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
89
Every movie about the Holocaust should be this good, but few are.
By Marrit Ingman FULL REVIEW
75
Like its singular central character, Before the Fall stands out from the pack.
By Ruthe Stein FULL REVIEW
70
When movie clichés are presented with rigor and feeling, they can pack a fresh punch.
By Chuck Wilson FULL REVIEW
70
If Before the Fall feels a tad overdetermined, it also feels emotionally honest. Calmly and carefully, Mr. Gansel makes large points with small scenes.
FULL REVIEW
63
Unusually compelling, even if it's treacly enough to be "The Chorus" in goose step.
By Janice Page FULL REVIEW
50
The film is a competent but callow work dealing with a monstrous subject that automatically rejects callowness.
FULL REVIEW
40
The movie is too middlebrow to show us the superman-type sexual heroics they must've engaged in, or even allow the illicit subtext to float to the surface (as Sokurov does in Father and Son)--instead we get tepid moralizing on dehumanization in the military.
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 9 User Ratings
7.2
78% Positive
7 Ratings
11% Mixed
1 Rating
11% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 9 User Ratings
7.2
78% Positive
7 Ratings
11% Mixed
1 Rating
11% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Olga Film, Constantin Film, SevenPictures Film
Release Date Oct 7, 2005
Duration 1 h 50 m
Genres
Tagline Men Make History. We Make The Men.
Website http://www.napola.film.de
View All Details

Awards

Undine Awards, Austria
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
New Faces Awards, Germany
• 2 Nominations

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