Before the Fall

Audience Reviews

View More

Ella M @arioserious Mar 17, 2026 NaPolA (or Before the Fall) is not a film that will show you something wholly unique, but rather an amazing mix of other films. The plot, overall, is very reminiscent of Dead Poets Society and just as gut wrenching. The main characters, and some of the more notable minor characters, are all given at least a few humanising (or at least nuanced) moments that make them very interesting/likeable (depending on the character and if we're supposed to like them or not). We follow Friedrich and Albrecht, two 16 year olds that were recently enrolled at a Nazi National Political School. Over the course of the movie we watch the boys become disillusioned with the system as a whole and refuse to support it. This contrasts their dormmates, minor characters, that serve to show that our leads are the exception in their society. The acting all around is superb, I can't think of a single character who bloated or brought down the film. It is a masterclass in small setting storytelling. See more Lisa V @RT79789630 Mar 27, 2025 I watched many war movies but always come back to this one. It is one of the most gut wrenching stories that show a beautiful friendship and happiness in this friendship. They change each other so much that they cannot go back to their old life's which leads to the tragic but perfect ending. The movie shows how a normal teenager could be drawn to the NAPOLAs which is important for us today to understand.Max Riemelt and Tom Schillings acting performance is really natural, detailed and emotionally raw. For me, the movie is perfect. See more Thomas S @RT53929595 Sep 28, 2024 Quite expected scenario, but the merit of this movie is that it makes us dive in the way totalitarian regimes shape their youth, aka the future. The scene where Fritz arrives at Napola, puts on his uniform and can't help smiling when singing... Who at that age could resist voices telling you all day that you are the elite, the future, the best of the nation. Terrifying... See more Ola G @Ollie1972 Sep 27, 2023 In 1942, the boxing skills of Friedrich Weimer earn him a place at a National Political Academy (NaPolA), a boarding school that serves as an entry into the Nazi elite. His father, an anti-Nazi factory worker, refuses to allow Friedrich to enroll. Friedrich, who sees the school as his ticket to a better life, forges his father's signature on the permission slip and leaves. He makes his way to the town of Allenstein, where the institute is located. He is introduced to his roommates Christoph, Hefe, Tjaden and Siggi. That evening, they gain another new roommate, Albrecht Stein, with whom Friedrich becomes fast friends... "Napola – Elite für den Führer" is a well made WWII movie about the National Political Institutes of Education or "NaPolA" school developed by the Nazi Germany government. Strong perfomances and strong storyline. See more Tony S @RT94004908 Aug 6, 2021 A great look into inner workings of Reich's boarding school from the perspective of two friends from two different backgrounds, unfortunately overt dramatization of almost every scene with overusage of slow motion takes away from the film's poignancy. What is portrayed should speak for itself. However it doesn't mean it fails in cinematography, it's quite beautifully shot and sets and costumes look wonderfully authentic. See more Oct 12, 2018 Too obvious, but still fascinating. See more Read all reviews

Before the Fall

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING