10 Great World War I and II Films That Aren’t Focused on the US

war films hosts a number of notable genre tropes, from clichéd military squads to guns that seemingly never run out of bullets. One of the most prevalent clichés of the genre are films that place enormous emphasis on the US involvement in winning both World Wars. The timely arrival of American forces has been used to mark a turning point in the fortunes of the Allied forces since the earliest days of cinema, contentiously overshadowing the heroism of men and women who did not come from the United States but fought and died. even so, in conflicts.

This particular trope can be found in war films of all types, from terrifying films about nuclear war to tales of armed conflict based on true stories. Even the best war films of all time are not immune to this particular cliché; the vast majority of the most famous films from the First or Second World War focus on US participation. That said, the genre still hosts a series of films that go against this trend, producing a top-notch war film that doesn’t suffer in the slightest from taking the focus away from America.

10

1917 (2019)

Directed by Sam Mendes

A remarkable feat of filmmaking that seems to work as one continuous shot, Sam Mendes’ film 1917 counters the tendency to focus on the US with a story that chronicles only the trials and tribulations of the British forces. Depicting a desperate race against time to save a battalion from certain annihilation against the backdrop of the First World War, Mendes’ ambitious film is the rare genre that features no American involvement.

One of the best films about the First World War1917 was released to near-universal critical acclaim and an impressive degree of commercial success in 2019. Particular praise was directed at the film’s performances, cinematography, and engaging sense of realism, with George Mackay’s riveting lead arc as Lance Corporal Will Schofield also earning rave reviews from critics. The film received ten Oscar nominations, taking home three Oscars to boot. 1917 enviable list of accolades without an American in sight.

9

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud

2001 Enemy at the Gates It’s an electrifying game of cat and mouse between a pair of snipers against the backdrop of the Battle of Stalingrad. The film stars Jude Law and Ed Harris as Soviet sniper Vasily Zaitsev and Wehrmacht sniper Erwin König, respectively, and focuses exclusively on the grueling conflict between the Soviet Union and Germany at the height of World War II.

Although the film received a mixed response from critics Enemy at the Gates is still a top-tier fan favorite, producing a depiction of war that crackles with intensity from the first sequence. Director Jean-Jacques Annuad makes no effort to bring his vision of World War II to life, producing a hellish snapshot of the conflict that radiates authenticity in the most bleak way imaginable. One of Jude Law’s best films, Enemy at the Gates It’s not perfect, but it’s still a completely engaging ride.

8

Stalingrad (1993)

Directed by Joseph Vilsmaier

A devastating anti-war offering from director Joseph Vilsmaier, 1993 Stalingrad is a German-Russian war film that depicts the harrowing experiences of a group of German soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad. An unflinching look at the worst that World War II had to offer the common infantryman, there’s not a single American in this bleak genre offering set entirely in Russia.

A moving, deep dive into one of the conflict’s most horrific encounters, which underlines the relentless human cost of war, Vilsmaier’s film is an underrated classic and one of the best war films released in the 1990s. A harrowing commentary on the futility of armed conflict and the intense physical and psychological cost it entails, Stalingrad is an excellent film that underlines the truth that there are no winners when it comes to war.

7

Fall (2004)

Directed byOliver Hirschbiegel

Oliver Hirschbiegel’s premise Fall is as controversial as you can imagine, with the film depicting the last days of Adolf Hitler during the Battle of Berlin in 1945. Set in the dictator’s bunker as the Red Army closes in on him, Hirschbiegel’s film features German dialogue and no direct American involvement over the course of 155 minutes.

If Fall should it have been made in the first place is an entirely valid question, but the overall quality of the Bruno Ganz-led film is not up for debate. Despite valid concerns that a film along these lines would humanize a monstrous individual like Hitler, Fall received near-universal acclaim, with particular praise directed at the film’s sense of historically accurate realism. The critics’ sentiments were echoed by the public; Fall The Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter Audience Score is actually higher than the Tomatometer Critics Score, reaching impressive approval ratings of 94% and 90%, respectively.

6

Come and See (1985)

Directed by Elem Klimov

Contentious, the best anti-war film of all time, Elem Klimov Come and see is the quintessential example of an excellent film that most fans only get to watch once. Portraying the Nazi occupation of Belarus Through the eyes of an initially innocent young man during World War II, Klimov’s acclaimed film is known for its harrowing narrative, existential commentary, and unflinching depiction of the horrors of war.

Unsurprisingly, given the film’s setting, the US doesn’t appear throughout Klimov’s devastating film. However, this state of affairs does not harm in any way Come and see desolate quality. Aleksei Kravchenko’s lead performance is often cited as one of the greatest child actor performances in cinema history, with the broader film being praised by many critics as one of the most well-made and impactful genre offerings of all time.

5

Dunkirk (2017)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

The first foray into the genre from celebrated filmmaker Christopher Nolan, 2017 Dunkirk chronicles the 1940 evacuation of British and French forces from the titular location. Featuring one of the best war film casts in recent memory, the film’s story is told from the perspective of British characters on land, sea and in the air. The star-studded World War II film features no American involvement in the proceedings, with Dunkirk occurring chronologically before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor spurred the US to join the war effort.

Breaking box office records for war films at the time of its release and earning a number of award nominations, Dunkirk is praised as one of Nolan’s best films, as well as one of the most technically impressive war films in recent memory. An immersive spectacle brought to life with all the flair associated with the director’s blockbuster style and topped off by a killer Hans Zimmer score, the 2017 film is an unflinching triumph for the genre, minus the American involvement.

4

Gallipoli (1981)

Directed by Peter Weir

A testament to the bravery of the countless Anzac forces who lost their lives in one of the bloodiest campaigns of the First World War, the Peter Weir campaign Gallipoli avoids focusing on the US to produce an excellent war film told from the perspective of Australian troops. Featuring Mel Gibson in one of his first career roles, Weir’s film tells the story of two young Australians who quickly find themselves confronted with the horrific realities of armed conflict after enlisting in search of adventure and glory.

While Gallipoli Faced its fair share of criticism for the historical inaccuracies contained in the film, the 1981 war film is a bleak anti-war ride of the highest order in terms of pure filmmaking. A hauntingly introspective commentary on the horrors of war that is considered one of the finest pieces of Australian cinema, Gallipoli is one of the best war films released in the 1980s.

3

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Directed by David Lean

Based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle The bridge over the River Kwai is widely considered one of the greatest films in cinema history, as well as one of the best British war films ever made. A production of Lawrence of Arabia director David Lean, the epic 1957 war film sees British prisoners of war forced to build the film’s titular railway structure to their Japanese captors.

Although the film is not entirely devoid of an American presence thanks to William Holden’s Commander Shears, The bridge over the River Kwai the main focus is undoubtedly the film’s main group of British prisoners of war. Either way, the film’s inherent quality is the headline here, and Lean’s picture has that in spades. Winning seven Oscars and receiving a wave of critical praise upon release, The bridge over the River Kwai went on to obtain classic status, regardless of genre.

2

The Boot (1981)

Directed by Wolfgang Peterson

Litigious, the greatest submarine film in the history of cinema, Wolfgang Peterson, The boot is one of the greatest war films ever conceived. One of the most expensive films in the history of German cinema, the 1981 war film chronicles the dangerous existence of a German submarine and its crew during World War II. From the boots The premise and characters deny the need for an American perspective or presence, a state of affairs that in no way detracts from the film’s masterful quality.

A remarkable case study in claustrophobic filmmaking and one of the most historically accurate World War II films ever made, Peterson’s acclaimed film was nominated for six Oscars, including the prestigious award for Best Director. While The boot failed to win any of the Oscars for which it was nominated, this did little to affect the film’s reputation as one of the best war films of all time.

1

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Directed by Edward Berger

A worthy, if lesser, successor to the original 1930 film adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel of the same name, 2022 All Quiet on the Western Front It is decidedly not concentrated in the USA. Edward Berger’s film focuses on a group of initially idealistic young German army recruits as they are sent to the Western Front during World War I, with the film’s story told entirely from the perspective of German characters as the conflict enters its final stages.

A harrowing commentary on the loss of youthful innocence precipitated by armed conflict and the futile nature of war, All Quiet on the Western Front it was a triumph for streaming giant Netflix. The film received rave reviews from critics and received nine Oscar nominations for Berger’s triumphant remake. The film would end up taking home four Oscars, although it was defeated for Best Picture by Everything everywhere at the same time.