The Bridge
The Bridge • 1h 43m
Directed by Bernhard Wicki • 1959 • West Germany
Starring Karl Michael Balzer, Folker Bohnet, Michael Hinz
Bernhard Wicki’s astonishing THE BRIDGE was the first major antiwar film to come out of Germany after World War II, as well as the nation’s first postwar film to be widely shown internationally, even securing an Oscar nomination. Set near the end of the conflict, it follows a group of teenage boys in a small town as they contend with everyday matters like school, girls, and parents, before enlisting as soldiers and being forced to defend their home turf in a confused, terrifying battle. This expressively shot, emotionally bruising drama dared to humanize young German soldiers at a historically tender moment, and proved influential for the coming generation of New German Cinema auteurs.
Up Next in The Bridge
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Gregor Dorfmeister on THE BRIDGE
THE BRIDGE was adapted from Gregor Dorfmeister’s first novel, published in 1958. In this March 2015 interview, Dorfmeister discusses the autobiographical nature of the story and the enduring impact of both the novel and the film.
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Volker Schlöndorff on THE BRIDGE
In this February 2015 interview, Volker Schlöndorff discusses THE BRIDGE, focusing on its impact on younger Germans and the affection he and his fellow New German Cinema filmmakers had for director Bernhard Wicki.
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Bernhard Wicki on THE BRIDGE
In this excerpt from a 1989 episode of the German television show “Das Sonntagsgespräch” (Sunday Talk), director Bernhard Wicki discusses the making of THE BRIDGE.
