BEFORE THE FALL (Napola)

Directed by Dennis Gansel


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 prestige offered by the Napola as his ticket out of an impoverished family unit run by his anti-Nazi father.

In the Napola, Friedrich learns to fight without pity, becoming a formidable killing machine. Propagandistic classes reinforce a hardened worldview of his Aryan superiority.

Meanwhile, Friedrich forms a bond with fellow cadet Albrecht Stein, an aspiring writer and son of the local Nazi governor. Governor Stein dotes on Friedrich, barely masking his contempt for his own son’s sensitivity. But Friedrich admires and empathizes with his friend, even though Albrecht criticizes Friedrich’s brutality in the ring.

As the war escalates, the school's military training also intensifies. Unscrupulous trainers humiliate the more vulnerable cadets in front of their peers and send the others out on dubious war game exercises. In one such nightmarish event, they instruct Friedrich and Albrecht to shoot escaping POW’s who turn out to be unarmed Russian civilians. Tormented with guilt, Albrecht rebels, and Friedrich must choose between his sworn allegiance to the Fuehrer and his best friend’s moral imperative.

Germany / 110 mins. / German with English, Spanish and French subtitles

“Intensely beautiful! Emotionally honest!”
Jeannette Catsoulis, NEW YORK TIMES

“As it explores such broad notions as the unraveling of compassion and the corruptive nature of nationalism, it is at the same time a love story about two young people who just happen to be positioned at a major crossroads in global affairs, and it is successful on both levels.”
Marrit Ingman, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE

“Unusually compelling!”
Janice Page, THE BOSTON GLOBE

"A work of exemplary craftsmanship, crisp and forthright yet modulated by subtle nuances, "Before the Fall" ranks high among the year's films!”
Kevin Thomas, LOS ANGELES TIMES

"Absorbing! Impeccable!"
Jay Carr, AM NEW YORK

“A gorgeous and enthralling film!”
Japhy Grant, IN LA MAGAZINE

“Raw and frenetic!”
Eddie Goldberger, NY SUN

"One of the best films of the year!"
Brandon Judell, NEW YORK THEATER WIRE

"A very human drama within one of the most inhuman regimes in recorded history.”
Richard Knight, Jr., WINDY CITY TIMES

"Schilling steals every scene he's in."
Neal Schindler, SEATTLE WEEKLY

"Inspiring and spirited."
Tom Keogh, THE SEATTLE TIMES

"One of the best films of the year!"
Brandon Judell, NEW YORK THEATER WIRE

“An evocative coming-of-age story told against the backdrop of an elite yet barbaric Nazi academy.”
Tatiana Siegel, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“Intense and heartbreaking!”
Brandon Voss, HX MAGAZINE

“A sharp and moving drama about the kind of love that goes beyond mere sexual attraction, played out against a tumultuous historical setting.”
Leo Buck, ORANGE COUNTY BLADE

“ The acting is believable; the photography, atmospheric; and the moral, unmistakable.”
V.A. Musetto, NEW YORK POST

“A tautly paced boys’- school drama. Potent and well-executed!”
Andrew O’Hehir, SALON.COM

"The hero (played with the right amount of adolescent insouciance by Max Riemelt) is a working-class boy admitted to one of the academies for his formidable boxing skills, and through him director Dennis Gansel captures the ordinariness of Hitler's supporters."
Joshua Katzman, CHICAGO READER

“A splendid example of classic screen storytelling!”
Kevin Thomas, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Director Dennis Gansel’s film retains an undeniable power, centered mainly in Friedrich’s deeply affecting friendship with Albrecht, the uncharacteristically sensitive son of the local Nazi chief. A well made, well acted film.”
Wade Major, LA CITY BEAT

“ A handsomely mounted production that benefits greatly from location shooting and sharp attention to historical detail.”
Ken Fox, TV GUIDE

“Especially in the latently homoerotic relationship between pugilistic he-man Friedrich and feminine, poetry-writing academic Albrecht, Before the Fall unerringly captures the national socialist movement's merciless groupthink and the Nazis leaders' abhorrent intolerance and brutality.”
Nick Schager, SLANT MAGAZINE

"Powerful storytelling, homoerotic eye candy, and excellent performances from German teen idols Riemelt and Schilling!”
Lawrence Ferber, GENRE MAGAZINE

“Powerful and important to watch!”
Avi Offer, THE NYC MOVIE GURU

"Dramatically effective in opening yet another window on the Nazi nightmare. Taut and effective!"
William Wolf, WOLF ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

“This slick, sympathetic portrait of lost innocence among Nazi youth reveals the Reich's manipulation and mistreatment of its own.”
Anthony Kaufman, TIME OUT CHICAGO

"Spectacular acting, directing, cinematography!"
Rick Brutti, NEW ENGLAND RINGSIDE

"Absorbing and well-made!"
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

“This well-made World War II film from Germany is both a coming-of-age story and a critique of National Socialist ideology. (Director Dennis) Gansel handles the political and personal themes with a subtlety that's become very rare in commercially intended movies.“
Richard James Havis, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“Napola is a testament to uncompromising filmmaking from innocent beginning to understated end. Max Riemelt is excellent as Friedrich Weimer.”
Boyd van Hoeij, EUROPEANFILMS.NET

"Unobtrusive, tasteful direction and music, along with retro-dark photography and a quietly good cast, keep this film above may others of its ilk."
Donald J. Levit, REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS

“Poignant!”
Jennifer Prestigiacomo, THE L MAGAZINE

“As intimate and truthful to its characters as it is powerfully topical and politically brave!”
Marrit Ingman, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE

“An extraordinary drama! Well-written, acted, and directed! Young star Riemelt looks primed for a high-profile career.”
Doris Toumarkine, FILM JOURNAL

“Before the Fall" commands attention from its very first frame and never lets up right through the fade-out.”
Kevin Thomas, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Provocative subject matter...solid blows are landed on themes of blind patriotism and calculating human flaws. Tech credits are sumptuous, with Torsten Breuer's lush widescreen lensing and Normand Corbeil's pulsing orchestrations.”
Eddie Cockrel, VARIETY

"The characters are fully realized, creating a feeling of truth to every scene. The visuals are amazing and the acting is top notch. This movie is a must see!"
Jason Whitaker, GENERATION Q

”Before The Fall packs a wallop!”
Kent Turner, FILM-FORWARD.COM

"Marvelous, chilling and nuanced!”
Hal Drucker, 50 PLUS SENIOR NEWS

Documentary featurette: The Making of BEFORE THE FALL
Documentary featurette: BEFORE THE FALL in New York
Deleted scenes
Storyboards
Scene selections
Widescreen
Coming attractions
Trailer
Photo gallery
Dolby 5.1/2.0 audio
Optional subtitles



BEST FILM - Golden Griffin award
2005 Y Gen Section at the Giffoni Film Festival

BEST FILM - ARCA award
2005 Giffoni Film Festival

WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD
Hamptons International Film Festival

WINNER - BEST ACTOR
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

WINNER - BEST DIRECTOR
Bavaria Film Festival

WINNER - BEST FILM
Viareggio Europacinema Film Festival

Max Riemelt - Rising Star Berlin Film Festival 2004

Rising Star Award - Hamptons International Film Festival 2004

2007 Contra Costa International Jewish Film Festival
2005 Cleveland International Film Festival
2005 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
2005 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
2005 Milwaukee International Film Festival
2005 Image+nation, Montréal's International LGBT Film Festival
2004 Montreal World Film Festival
2004 Mar del Plata Film Festival