The Adventures of Werner Holt

This movie is a timeless masterpiece, and one of Germany's top 10 rated films. It will draw the viewer with surprising frankness , and bold actions of 2 young men of an unlikely friendship, coming of age in the 1940's Germany. Drafted from Highschool to the German Military, both of them going through a character Transition: Werner, a more sensible person, turns more and more into a sceptic by witnessing how his ideals getting destroyed by the application of a ruthless fascist system where he has to be part of it. Gilbert, also intelligent, a man of action and a Go Getter develops a passion for everything Military, that eventually will challenge his friendship to Werner. The viewer will experience both of them as likable characters at first, and will go with them through a transition .Eventually feel the painful decision process they are forced to undergo. The gap between them widen and resolves a final movie climax. Being a complex psychological Drama, the film does not lack action or battle scenes, which were masterfully staged and ahead of their times. Using newly invented filmographic artwork, a realistic ambiance leaves the viewer in awe, even today with it's special effects and CGI technologies. Many elderly Germans who I had the pleasure sharing this movie with, attested it as being an authentic capture of the period. Made in 1965, the memory of the 40's where fresh and painful, the production used people with first hand experiences, to left no detail missing. For most movie directors using flashbacks of a flashback are usually a No No to use in blockbuster films. Surprisingly it works very well in this film. It does, because it helps the viewer to understand their character transitions from High School to the dramatic combat scenes. Both of them are not the typical blind Nazi followers, nor fanatics, nevertheless prisoners of their times. Sometimes even swimming against the popular tide of fascism, by beating up their schools Hitler Youth leader, for being a cruel prick.

If they would have been born 20 years later, they would have blended right into our social fabric, as perhaps intellectuals (Werner) or aggressive businessman (Gilbert).

Some viewers criticized this film for not using authentic WW2 rifles, pointing towards the AK-47, allegedly used in this film by German soldiers. When in fact they where "Sturmgewehr 44s", with whom not many people are familiar with. This Gun was issued by few German units in 1945, and described as one of Hitlers so called Wonder weapons to change the outcome of the war.

The Actors and the Acting As a German raised Canadian, I love those Actors, because I grew up seeing them on German TV for half of my lifetime, and recently again, because the internet and online shopping makes it possible to reunite with them. Most of them can still be seen on new German TV productions today. For me, they where simply the best. Does a wage of x-million $ per film, make a Hollywood actor better, than an actor from another country who does quality work with a moderate wage ? I guess only American movie fans can answer that. For me, they just created one of my most favourite films. My Dad , a veteran of age 84 and I, are in accord on this opinion, as for my part I have listened a lot but not enough of my past 55 years to him, specially interested in the wartime. At first very reluctant to tell me much, my insistence paid of over the years. He grew up like a normal child from a middle class farming family, enjoying the seasons, Fishing, hunting and swimming in the ancient Hessel river. Joined the Hitler Youth, because almost every young boy did. That meant privilege's like participating in motor sport and glider plane classes. Our farming community lived in a quite and tranquil place of Germany, with not much going on. There was plenty of food on the farm, many family gatherings and celebrations, it seemed like time would not touch this little peaceful and enchanting world. That idyll all ended in the second year of the war, just like it did in the movie. If my Dad says the movie got it accurately, than I do believe him

More than remarkable film from East(!)-Germany. Regular German soldiers loose their faith in the war and their commanders when they are confronted with the criminal acts of the SS (their superiors). The key scene plays at a saw mill, where SS troops cut of body parts of innocent civilians. The Russians are nearing and Werner and his comrads think of surrendering. Excellent playing and scenery, with clear personal viewpoints.

This movie is a cult sleeper waiting to be discovered. If war can be funny than this movie is as funny as "Full Metal Jacket". The end of the Second World War is seen through the eyes of two German teenage boys, one a fanatic Nazi caught up in the glory of war and the other is his friend awed by the experiences they have at the end of the war fighting for a hopelessly lost cause. The nightmarish landscape, photography and surreal atmosphere of situations and characters captures the madness of war in Germany with a unique childlike wishful thinking expressed by the characters. A unique perspective of war that ranks with the movies "Cross of Iron" and Breakthrough"

I view this well-produced wartime drama as being something of a belated apology from Germany.

Its story clearly tells the viewer that there were many Germans who didn't adhere to the beliefs and values of their fanatical Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. But, due to the stringent laws set down at the time, they were forced to toe-the-line, or else face severe punishment and, yes, even death.

Filmed in b&w, our story concerns young Werner Holt who (through numerous flashbacks) reflects on his experiences throughout the war.

First as a wide-eyed student and zealous Nazi-wannabe, disillusionment and hateful resentment towards the almighty SS soon sets in as Werner eventually learns some cold, sobering truths about what allegiance to the Third Reich really means.

Competently directed by Joachim Kunert, this 1965 picture was well-received in both East & West Germany upon its theatrical release.

One of this film's biggest pluses was that there was no American presence in the story. One of this film's biggest minuses was its 2-hour/37-minute running time.

All-in-all - I'd say that this wartime tale was well-worth one viewing. This picture is considered by many critics and historians to be one of the most important German films ever made.

Having seen and admired Joachim Kunert's previous film, "The Second Track", I was keen to see this, his most famous work. I'm fine with films which take a non-linear approach, and must have seen hundreds like that. My problem with this one is its ridiculous length (164 minutes.) I'm sure that soldiers who went through the war found it interminable, but that's no excuse for a film about WW2 to seem interminable. Ironically it's twice the length of "The Second Track" and had half the impact. If you want a really good film about young German soldiers in that war see Bernhard Wicki's "The Bridge."