Oscar nominees Volker Bertelmann and Markus Stemler break down the sound and fury of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ [VIDEO]

Every once in a while, a film comes along that reminds us why we love the medium. One that transports us to another place in time for some completely immersive storytelling. All Quiet on the Western Front is that film. This anti-war story for the ages uses aural and visual spectacle to bring to life a story that sends a relevant message to humanity. 

I spoke with the Oscar-nominated dynamic duo who brought to life an authentically immersive World War I soundscape accompanied by a harrowing score. Composer Volker Bertelmann told me that even though he had worked with director Edward Berger before, this time, Berger told him very simply, “I want you to destroy the pictures.” The two-time Oscar nominee went on to explain the fascinating collaboration between the two creative geniuses. Bertelmann then explained how Led Zeppelin influenced the score and the many different creative ways he was able to achieve that sound including a surprising instrument passed down from his great-grandmother.

Sound designer Markus Stemler shared some of the challenges he experienced when creating the sound without having any sonic recordings of the event or even the time period. He talked about how the team leveraged letters where soldiers had actually described what they heard for inspiration. “They even created nicknames for ammunition,” Stemler explained. 

Volker Bertelmann is Oscar-nominated for Original Score and Markus Stemler is nominated for Sound, among All Quiet on the Western Front‘s nine Academy Award nominations. The film is streaming in the Academy streaming room as well as on Netflix.

Watch the full video interview for more on their creative process in creating the aural experience of All Quiet on the Western Front.