El puente

Of course, The Bridge is far from a perfect film. Critics may point to the weaker moments of the inexperienced young actors, the slow start, and the uneven pacing. However, it tackles an extraordinarily powerful anti-war theme, and there are very few films that have emotionally moved me as much as this one did. Critics might also argue that modern war films feature more effects and greater spectacle. But for its time, The Bridge was an extraordinary artistic achievement, and even after nearly half a century, it is still worth watching. It contains many powerful scenes, absurd situations, and significant dialogues. When compared to modern war films, such as those about the Gulf War, I can’t help but give it five stars. Overall impression: 90%. (17.10.2007)

Even on a second viewing, my initial rating remained unchanged. Not that the film is beyond critique, but in this instance, the content was more important than the form for me. Each part of the movie had its own strengths; the first half depicted a carefree life amidst the pervasive war, with some amusing scenes. The tone shifted in the second half, abandoning levity and humor. German introspection gave rise to a subtly powerful anti-war film, weaving together a narrative of unfortunate events, youthful zeal, and mass indoctrination leading to an inevitable outcome. While I have a keen interest in history, particularly war-related events, it's not to revel in the glory that war can offer — becoming a hero, showing bravery, and earning fame and respect. On the contrary, each historical fact reinforces my belief that war is an abomination, where ideals perish alongside the would-be heroes. War, from my perspective, is merely a mechanism for widespread death and mutilation, with those orchestrating it rarely facing the consequences in their bunkers. / Lesson learned: It's there in the film, you can't miss it. (13.07.2022)

I don't even know how this movie came to me, but I'm very glad about it. It's an incredibly powerful story about how boys end up in a war. But this isn't just a button war, they went straight into World War II and are looking forward to fighting for their country. Some scenes are unbelievably strong and surprisingly naturalistic. (11.06.2015)