Rent Summer of '44 (2017)
3.0 of 5 from 51 ratings
1h 44min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
On the surface it is beautiful hot summer and things appear as usual for five teenager friends hanging out at the public pool. The sun burns down from the sky and the boys show off and stare longingly at the pretty girls. However as all of them are looking to cool off in the water the events of WWII are closing in rapidly which will impact on all of their lives. In the summer of 1944, the tide has turned for Nazi Germany: their army is retreating and squeezing every last drop of blood in the defence of the Fatherland, even from teenage boys, is a price that needs to be paid. Ignoring the brutal regime as best as they can, the five lads try to bring some normality to their lives before it's oft to the harsh training camps and the battle fields. The group is led by the cocky, self-assured Knuffke (Theo Trebs); his friend Onkel (Jonathan Berlin), the sensitive introvert, longs for true love. For now, they are nothing but cannon fodder, two of them being forced into the SS, the other 3 friends are made to fight alongside 60-year-old men in the defence of Germany. Soon enough, two of the boys are dead. Understanding the futility of their efforts, Onkel deserts the army. He must survive at all cost as deserters are instantly executed. Some of the friends manage to return home after the war is over. Can their friendship survive the brutality of war and the decisions they had to make? As spring turns into summer again, peace has come, but at what cost? Their innocence has gone, and the public pool has fallen dry. - Actors:
- Jonathan Berlin, Theo Trebs, Andreas Warmbrunn, Laurenz Lerch, Joscha Eißen, Johannes Geller, Vica Kerekes, Karel Dobrý, Peter Faerber, Andreas Lust, Lili Epply, Andreas Klaue, Robert Kuchenbuch, Manja Kuhl, Anna Gesa-Raija Lappe, Jürgen Hartmann, Thomas Balou Martin, Christoph Hufenbecher, Miroslav Lhotka
- Directors:
- Friedemann Fromm
- Producers:
- Marc Müller-Kaldenberg
- Writers:
- Oliver Storz, Friedemann Fromm
- Aka:
- Die Freibadclique / Summer of '44: The Final Battle for Germany
- Studio:
- IMC Vision
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama
- Countries:
- Germany
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Reviews (2) of Summer of '44
Highly enjoyable German film set in 1944-45. - Summer of '44 review by PV
As a fan of both movies set in WWII and many German film, such as the sublime TV drama GENERATION WAR, I loved this.
Yes, it drags and sags a bit in the middle. And the boys look too old - they are meant to be born 1929 so 15.
Anyway, I enjoyed it all - and rate it as one of the better WWII films.
Nice visuals and music.
4 stars.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
The End of WW2 from German Eyes - Summer of '44 review by CP Customer
Interesting film of how a group of youths in the summer of 1944 were enlisted to fight for the fatherland and the subsequent events that occurred in their lives! Interesting from a Historical view point but as a piece of entertainment one for those really interested in anything to do with WW2!
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.