And so I always have a very difficult time using that word.
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DEADLINE: Where were you when you found out about the nomination?
We cheered a lot of times, and then we just went right back to filming.
Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’Reiner Bajo/Netflix/ Everett Collection
DEADLINE: This film has garnered incredible accolades in just the last week alone.
Are you surprised that the film has been so well received?
But definitely, the surprise is the number of nominations, a wonderful surprise.
GRUNERT:I think the same.
DEADLINE: Lets talk about the fact that this is the first German adaptation of this film.
So you’re free to massively fail with a movie like this and set your goals too high.
And then you never know, like, are we doing this right?
Is it enough money?
Because money, unfortunately, in a genre like this is important.
Do we have enough to make it properly to make it look not to become a joke?
The book is so famous that you have a fear of failing the book.
You think like, Are we ever going to get there?
Is it going to be a movie thats going to connect to people?
How can this be?
So, it was intimidating, but also a very clear yes.
DEADLINE: Considering all its nominations, why do you think people are resonating to the film this way?
GRUNERT:Its a literary masterpiece of sorts that tells a story about war that still feels contemporary.
Its a story about war that isnt a heros journey.
Its not about accomplishing a mission or being somewhere by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Or if not, then something happens.
Its none of that.
And that feels like a very contemporary and a very German perspective on war.
And I think that is something that people connect to.
Obviously, there is the horrible sort of political relevance that it has because of the war in Ukraine.
It could have gone either way.
But we seem to have struck a chord with possibly this perspective and the story were telling.
And I think its a very well-made film, and Im proud of that.
DEADLINE: What does joining the historical ranks of the films original 1930 Best Picture category mean to you?
And so I always have a very difficult time using that word.
Every single piece was so important, and every one of them was so good.
And so that contribution that got recognized, Im really proud of.
And to not have failed the novel…for now [Laughs].
It was banned in Germany briefly after it was released.
The 95th Academy Awards are set to take place at the Dolby Theatre on March 12.
