Making of

Filmed twice before in 1930 and 1979, the new Netflix version of All Quiet On The Western Front is arguably definitive. Director Edward Berger has gone back to the source novel by Erich Maria Remarque which was written based on his own experiences. In all areas, from the production design by Christian M Goldbeck to costume design by Lisy Christl, from weapons to props, they sought historical authenticity.

Extensive battlefield scenes were shot at a Soviet era airport in Milovice, Czech Republic. These days it’s a sports airport but temporarily closed operations for three months so the production could shoot there. They dug several hundred metres of trenches for French and German lines and a hinterland battlefield the size of two soccer pitches. Since Berger and DP James Friend wanted to achieve many shots without cutting, the actors had to be able to move long distances. The trenches were connected to allow for this. They also searched for existing destroyed buildings and courtyard structures to redesign with newly constructed exterior parts and create an obliterated background.

The airfield was also chosen because it was completely South facing from its hero angle. The sun rose from the French side, and it set perfectly on the German side enabling Friend to shoot all through the day against the light.

One challenge was to transform the Czech, largely Bohemian, architecture into Flemish or French-looking architecture. They created other backdrops at Barrandov Studio in Prague and recreated several train compartments as well as the lounge car of the Grands Express Européens used for scenes where German and French military leaders negotiate peace. They filmed in Spring 2021 in truly inhospitable temperatures during which snow thawed and turned the trenches to mud – exactly what the production needed.

Images courtesy of Netflix & Reiner Bajo.