Napola – Elite für den Führer DVD 2004 Before the fall / Directed by Dennis Gansel / Starring: Max Riemelt, Tom Schilling, Michael Schenk, Justus Von Dohnányi

UPC 4011976827986

REGION 2 PAL DVD  

MADE IN GERMANY

AUDIO: German 5.1

SUBTITLES: -

Runtime: 110 minutes

German Summary:

Napola – Elite für den Führer ist ein deutscher Spielfilm aus dem Jahr 2004. Er erzählt von der Freundschaft, die zwei Jugendliche während ihrer Ausbildung in einer Nationalpolitischen Erziehungsanstalt (umgangssprachlich meist Napola genannt) schließen. Die Hauptrollen spielen Max Riemelt und Tom Schilling, Regie führte Dennis Gansel, der in die fiktive Handlung Erlebnisse seines Großvaters (Oberstleutnant der Bundeswehr) an einer solchen Eliteschule der Nationalsozialisten einfließen ließ.

Im Kriegsjahr 1942 wird der 17-jährige Friedrich bei einem Boxkampf im Berliner Wedding von einem Deutsch- und Sportlehrer der (fiktiven) „Napola Allenstein“ entdeckt, der ihm daraufhin den Eintritt in die Napola nahelegt. Friedrich besteht die Aufnahmeprüfungen. Als ihm jedoch sein regimekritischer Vater den Schulbesuch untersagt, fälscht er kurzerhand dessen Unterschrift und beginnt im neuen Schuljahr seine Ausbildung, um zur zukünftigen nationalsozialistischen Elite zu gehören.

English Summary:

Before the Fall (also known as NaPolA: Hitler's Elite; German: Napola – Elite für den Führer) is a 2004 German drama film written and directed by Dennis Gansel. It is centered around the National Political Institutes of Education or "NaPolA" schools created under the government of Nazi Germany. These military academies were designed as preparatory schools for the future Nazi political and military elite.

In 1942, Friedrich Weimer's (Max Riemelt) boxing skills earn him an appointment to a National Political Academy (NaPolA), a high school that serves as an entry to the Nazi elite. His father, a skilled factory worker who despises the Nazis, flatly refuses to allow Friedrich to enroll. Friedrich, who sees the school as his ticket to university and a better life, forges his father's signature on the permission form and leaves during the night. He makes his way to the town of Allenstein, where the school is located, getting a ride from passing cars or trucks when possible and walking the rest of the way. Friedrich's forged papers are overlooked when he arrives, and he is greatly impressed in his first day at Allenstein.

However, Friedrich's idealistic view of Allenstein is soon tarnished by the harsh, rigid discipline that governs the school. Older students are able to bully younger students almost at will, since there is little interference from school officials, who not only encourage such behavior but actually participate in it themselves. One boy, Siegfried Gladen, endures repeated public humiliation for his tendency to wet the bed as he sleeps.

Cast / Besetzung:

• Max Riemelt as Friedrich Weimer
• Tom Schilling as Albrecht Stein
• Jonas Jägermeyr as Christoph Schneider
• Leon Alexander Kersten as Tjaden
• Thomas Drechsel as Hefe
• Martin Goeres as Siegfried 'Siggi' Gladen
• Florian Stetter as Justus von Jaucher
• Devid Striesow as Heinrich Vogler
• Joachim Bissmeier as Dr. Karl Klein 'Karl der Große' / Anstaltsleiter
• Michael Schenk as Josef Peiner 'Peiniger' / Sportlehrer
• Justus von Dohnanyi as Gauleiter Heinrich Stein
• Claudia Michelsen as Frau Stein
• Julie Engelbrecht as Katharina
• Johannes Zirner as Torben Send
• Dennis Gansel as Boxing Trainer