My favourite anti-war film and in fact, recent cinema experience, is Edward Berger’s epic 147 minute remake of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2022). It is the third film adaption following the 1930 and 1979, productions, all based on the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque. The German-born director also co-wrote the screenplay with Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell and co-produced with Malte Grunert and Daniel Dreifuss and featured Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Bruhl, Sebastian Hulk, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovic and Devid Striesow in the lead roles. Set during World War I, it centres on 17 year-old Paul Baumer, an idealistic young German soldier who finds himself exposed to the realities of war.

In this version of the movie, a parallel storyline follows the armistice negotiations to end the hostilities, which is not in the book. It received 14 nominations at the BAFTA Awards-winning seven, including Best Film and Edward also winning for Best Direction and Adapted Screenplay. At the Academy Awards, its nine nominations resulted in four Oscars, including Best International Feature.

Edward continued his remarkable success with his first English-language film, CONCLAVE (2024), a political thriller surrounding a Conclave to elect the next pope, written by Peter Straughan and based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. Given recent events following the death of Papa Francesco, there has been renewed interest in the movie, returning to the big screens worldwide. Life has certainly imitated art. After the official nine-day mourning period, the Conclave has begun with 133 cardinals gathering once again in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican to elect the 267th Pope.

The film won four BAFTA Awards; Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Adapted Screenplay and Editing from 12 nominations and received the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and seven other nominations including Best Picture.

I caught up with the affable Edward in London during this year’s BAFTA Awards and he very kindly signed a quick portrait I did of him and a CONCLAVE montage I designed.