NaPolA (2004)

Director:

Dennis Gansel

Writers:

Dennis Gansel (writer)
Maggie Peren (writer)

Release Date:

25 December 2004 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Men Make History. We Make The Men.

Plot:

In 1942, Friedrich Weimer's boxing skills get him an appointment to a National Political Academy (NaPolA) - high schools that produce Nazi elite...

Plot Keywords:

Swastika | Nazi Uniform | War Crime | Underwater Scene | Instructor

Awards:

6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Before the Fall (International: English title)
Before the Fall (Napola) (USA)
Junge Wölfe - Elite für den Führer (Germany) (working title)
NaPolA (Germany) (closing credits title)
Napola (Germany) (short title)
Napola - Elite für den Führer (Germany) (promotional title)
Napola: Hitler's Elite (Singapore: English title) (poster title)

Runtime:

117 min | USA:110 min | Czech Republic:110 min (Karlovy Vary Film Festival) | Argentina:110 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:MA | Iceland:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Hungary:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Hamburg, Germany

Company:

Olga Film GmbH

Trivia:

Apparantly the main character, the boxer, was based on the directors grandfather.

Goofs:

Continuity: During Friedrich's glider flight, his helmet is securely strapped at the start but is shown unstrapped a few seconds later. He kept both hands on the glider's yoke.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Smagsdommerne: (#2.10)" (2005)

extremely touching film

I saw this film once, and needed to return once more to see it again. This film touched my heart in a way that very few others have. Max Riemelt and Tom Schilling give one of the most convincing and stellar performances I have ever seen. Their chemistry on screen is such that the audience becomes fully engaged in their emotion and in their situation. Their heart-wrenching performance is illuminated by director Dennis Gansel's artistic genius. There are breathtaking shots of German landscape and scenery. There are angles and shots throughout the movie that remain very close to you long after the movie is finished. The story is a very vivid reminder of the horrors that man is capable of producing. This German film is a reminder of that horror, but also reminds us that there is innocence within that horror. If anything, this film depicted young men who were stripped of their innocence. Some gave in to the horror, while our heroes fought against it. For those who are lovers of the German language, you will hear no finer dialogue and range of speech than in this incredible work. I urge anyone and everyone to see this film.