Released in 2004, Hitler's Boy is a war drama film directed by Dennis Gansel and starring Max Remet and Tom Schhilling, telling the story of a German boy whose dream was shattered during World War II.
Born into a working-class family, Freidrich, a 17-year-old boy, was indoctrinated with militarist ideas such as "survival of the fittest" and "anti-Semitism" in elite schools run by Nazi Germany.
But his close friend Albert was so disgusted with war that he chose to commit suicide against the system. Albert's death made Frederick completely awakened.
Whether it was that era or the country, becoming a soldier was a dream for most boys. Soldiers, iron bones, majestic, heroic, fearless, unyielding. The mission of soldiers is to defend their families and defend the country, but if they are used to kill innocents indiscriminately, such "bravery and fearlessness" will lose their meaning.
Through the perspective of a school boy in a military school, the film shows the awakening of teenagers after being incorporated into the Nazi system during World War II.
The unconditional obedience of the individual will to the so-called collective will, without the ego, without inner freedom, such an "iron bone" is actually just a machine.
By 1945, there were more than 40 Nazi educational institutions in Nazi Germany, training more than 15,000 students. When the war was already doomed to failure, they were still sent to the battlefield to try to make a final attempt. Every second someone dies...
Thankfully, Fred was not sent to war as a machine. Although he was forced to take off his uniform, including the innermost underwear, he was truly free. With the cold wind howling and the snow falling, Fred finally walked out of the cave and into a holy world.
"Hitler's Boy", along with 1981's "Attack from the Bottom of the Sea" and 2004's "The Destruction of the Empire", was praised by fans as one of Germany's three major war films. In my opinion, "Hitler's Boy" is the best to watch. While reflecting on the war, it also shows the different youth of a group of teenagers in a special period. 【Elephant has a play】Watch the classics, talk about life, let's come together!