Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In 1942, Friedrich Weimer's boxing skills get him an appointment to a National Political Academy (NaPolA) – high schools that produce Nazi elite. Over his father's objections, Friedrich enrolls. During his year in seventh column, Friedrich encounters hazing, cruelty, death, and the Nazi code. His friendship with Albrecht, the ascetic son of the area's governor, is central to this education.
Before the Fall is a solid German coming-of-age drama set within the Nazi elite school system. The plot follows a familiar trajectory of disillusionment within a totalitarian institution, hitting expected beats without much surprise, though it is executed with conviction. Acting is competent and earnest, with the two lead performances carrying emotional weight but rarely transcending the material. Cinematography is appropriately austere and period-accurate without being particularly inventive. The film treads well-worn ground of Nazi-era moral awakening narratives, making its Novelty limited despite its specific NaPolA setting being underexplored in cinema. The ending, however, is genuinely devastating and earns its impact — Albrecht's fate and Friedrich's response land with real dramatic force, elevating the film above its somewhat formulaic structure.