germany in the second world war especially. the movie, made for a relatively modest $20 million on a film set outside prague, in central europe, stars austrian actor felix kammerer, who plays paul, a raw, young german recruit sent out to battle in the last, horrifying days of world war one. renowned german actor daniel bruhl plays a politician negotiating the 1918 armistice. it's a war film made from the perspective of the losing side. american, english and french films with that perspective, absolutely legit. but being german, from our side, ifound it interesting to make a film that does not glorify war in any second and does not have that tone, but is very bleak and very direct.