Austrian stage actor Felix Kammerer stars as a young recruit in the German army who witnesses the horrors of front-line combat during World War I. The latest adaptation of the classic novel by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front is a grim drama depicting the ravages of war in shocking detail. Nominated for nine Oscars including Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects, All Quiet on the Western Front is now streaming on Netflix.
Kammerer stars as Paul, a naive 17-year-old who’s determined not to be left behind while his friends go to war, joining the German army against his parents’ wishes. His notions of heroic battle are quickly extinguished by the brutal reality in the trenches. Surrounded by violence and death, often by his own hands, he tries to hold on to his humanity.
All Quiet on the Western Front marks Kammerer’s breakthrough cinematic role. He previously appeared in the 2021 docudrama Dürer and the 1998 drama David im Wunderland.
Schuch plays Kat, a battle-hardened soldier who remains brotherly toward his younger comrades. He forms a close bond with Paul, who helps him read letters from his wife. Although Kat is uneducated, he is resourceful and wise when it comes to survival.
Schuch won a German Film Award for his role in the 2020 movie Berlin Alexanderplatz and in the 2019 Netflix drama System Crasher. He also led the 2016 TV mini-series Mitten in Deutschland: NSU.
Hilmer plays Albert, one of Paul’s close friends from home who joins the same army unit. Like Paul, he is sobered by the chaotic and harsh conditions on the front lines, though his mental state suffers as he longs for a romantic escape from the war.
Hilmer starred in the 2020 Netflix series The Last Word and the 2018 romantic comedy The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.
Hasanović plays Tjaden, an older soldier in Paul’s unit who, like Kat, is a seasoned fighter. Not interested in returning to civilian life as a peat digger, he dreams of moving up the ranks to become an army ranger, though his chances are unlikely.
Hasanović starred in the Netflix crime series Skylines and appeared in the 2021 drama Je Suis Karl. He was nominated for a German Film Award for his leading role in the 2012 drama Shifting the Blame.
You can follow Hasanović on Instagram.
Brühl plays Erzberger, a centrist politician who's alarmed by the mounting death tolls of German soldiers and recognizes that his country is losing the war. He implores the military leadership to end hostilities, believing that to continue fighting will only result in more needless deaths.
Brühl was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in the 2013 biographical sports drama Rush. He won both a European Film Award and a German Film Award for his starring role in the 2003 dramedy Goodbye, Lenin! Brühl also appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds and the Netflix 2018 sci-fi thriller The Cloverfield Paradox.
You can follow Brühl on Instagram.
De Montalembert plays Marshal Ferdinand Foch, a steely French military leader and commander of the Allied forces, who meets with the German delegation to negotiate the armistice. Knowing Germany is in a desperate position, he is not interested in offering any concessions.
French actor de Montalembert appeared in the 2019 period drama The King and the French comedy-drama series Call My Agent!, both Netflix productions. He also appeared in the British-French crime series The Tunnel.
Striesow plays General Friedrichs, a hawkish military commander who wants Germany to continue fighting despite suffering devastating losses. He shows little concern for the lives of the troops on the ground and views Erzberger and other politicians who want to end the war as traitors.
Striesow starred in the 2010 drama 3, directed by Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas, Run Lola Run) and appeared in the 2004 World War II drama Downfall. He also starred in the 2022 German mini-series Das Begräbnis.
You can follow Striesow on Instagram.
