THEThe link between cinema and war is often the excuse for epic adventures. Although the period of the Great War of 1915 – 1918 is today one of the least considered, in favor of more palatable battles, of films about the First World War there are many capable of speaking to the younger generations too. Here are the ones not to be missed on Prime and Netflix, from certified cults to documentaries.
First World War films on Netflix and Prime Video
Recent World War I films: Battlefield su Prime Video
In 2024 Gianni Amelio brings to the big screen the novel The challenge by Carlo Patriarca. The movie is the story of two medical officers, Stefano and Giulio, colleagues in a military hospital and childhood friends. Their lives become complicated due to different ideas about the war conflict in place and because they both love Anna, a nurse.
When patients begin to die from a mysterious diseaseno one can understand the most effective cure to heal them. Giulio also becomes infected, with little hope of recovery. In the cast Alessandro Borghi (On my skin), Gabriel Montesi (Dostoevsky) And Federica Rosellini (Petra).
“Battlefield” by Gianni Amelio film about the First World War (01Distribution)
First World War Movie Netflix: Nothing new on the Western Front
Erich Maria Remarque’s 1928 novel it is emblematic tale of the absurdity of war, seen through the eyes of young German soldiers at the front. First adapted in 1930 by director Lewis Milestone, it was revived in 2022 by Edward Berger. The protagonists of the second version are 3 childhood friends, enlisted in the army.
The traumatic experiences lived in the trenchesbetween deaths and bloody battles, will have psychological repercussions even in times of peace. Also in the cast is Daniel Brühlseen in Eden And Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.
“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
World War I horse film: War Horse on Prime Video
The First World War seen through the relationship between a teenager and his horse. Steven Spielberg chooses the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo to tell a dramatic fairy tale. An English family buys at a village fair a beautiful horse named Joey. The younger son Albert bonds deeply with the animal. With the arrival of the Great War, the economic crisis forces Albert’s father to sell the horse. The boy will do anything to get it back, even joining the army.
During the years of the war, Joey passed from owner to ownerunknown people who have in common a great affection for the equine. His adventure, with a happy ending, leads him to hug his first friend, Albert. The cast includes many stars such as Emily Watson (The waves of destiny) Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Eric).
Italian First World War films: The meadows will return on Prime Video
Ermanno Olmi’s latest masterpiece, from 2014is a poetic dedication to the young soldiers who fought in the First World War. An intense, at times magical, story which manages to show the horror of war through the protagonists’ relationship with the uncontaminated nature of the mountains. One night in 1917 on the plateau between Vicenza and Trento. A group of soldiers, lurking in a cabin, keeps an eye on the area waiting for the enemy to arrive.
The hours pass and, to ease the tension and the cold, the boys tell their classmates about their dreams and life before the war. Around them only silence, deep snow and the death that could come, without warning. In the cast, Claudio Santamaria (They called him Jeeg Robot) and Alessandro Sperduti (Dante). Available for a fee on Prime.
The cast of “Torneranno i prati” by Ermanno Olmi (01Distribution)
Complete films First World War: 1917 on Prime Video
1917the spectacular war story directed by Sam Mendes, is a tribute to the life of the director’s grandfather, soldier during the First World War. The film follows the adventures of Corporal William almost in real time of the British Army, stationed in France in 1917. Together with his comrade Tom, he receives the task of delivering to Colonel Mackenzie the order to stop the military action. The aim is to save the lives of the second division from the German ambush.
On the way, Tom is killed. After risking his life several times, William he manages to deliver the message saving his countrymen. The protagonist George MacKay (Pride) it doesn’t look out of place from the front to actors like Andrew Scott and Colin Firth. On Prime, available for purchase and rental.
George MacKay in “1917” (01Distribution)
World War I Christmas Movies: Joyeux Noël – A truth forgotten by history on Prime Video
The French director Christian Carion in 2006 he chose to tell a true story, full of hope and humanity even among the events of the First World War. On Christmas Eve, two opera singers are invited to the front German to cheer the soldiers with music. The repertoire is the classic one of the Christmas holidays. As soon as the first notes of Still Night they spread through the air the Scottish army, not far from themstarts playing the bagpipes for accompany the singing.
A symbolic gesture that also leads to the reaction of the French people, who come together bringing gifts of wine and sweets. an impossible meeting between three enemy nations who enjoy peace on the battlefield. How long will the truce last? With Diane Kruger, Guillaume Canet and Daniel Brühl.
Diane Kruger in “Joyeux Noël – A truth forgotten by history” (tv2000)
First World War Films: The great war on Prime Video
Written and directed in 2019 by Steven Lukeputs it in the center the true story of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. A few days after the end of the First World War, a captain in the US Army and his company, named Buffalo, receive the dangerous assignment to get behind German enemy lines to save their African American comrades.
A war story that also talks about equality between races. This infantry division, initially made up of only black soldiers, actually existed. Starring Billy Zane, Rose’s bad boyfriend in Titanic and Ron Pearlman (Don’t look up).
“The long road to war” (Netflix)
Documentary film on the First World War: The long road to war on Netflix
The 2018 documentary analyzes with archive material and in depth the origins of the First World War and the real reasons behind the start of the conflict. A reasoned excursus on political events in Europe since the end of the nineteenth century. From the arms race to the escalation of tension until irreversible crisis of July 1914: the Sarajevo attack on Archduke Franz Ferdinand. A documentary testimony alternating with authoritative voices of international scholars and historians.