I had to keep watching because of how utterly disappointed I was in this adaptation. Major plot deviations from the book doesn't begin to describe it. Why do the Germans sound vaguely German but the French sound English? Schmidt introduced to speed the plot? Why is Volkheimer relegated to a lesser role? No mention of the copies of the Sea of Flames.

The radio fixing scene is absolutely ruined, instead of praising Werner as a genius and showing his methodology, he is threatened and belittled and just does it. Everyone who was nurturing to Werner's ability in the book just outright abuses or threatens him here. There is no mention of his friend Frederick at school who loves birds and has a tragic outcome. All of Frederick's suffering seems simply redirected onto Werner which makes little sense for what should have been a complex character.

Very curious too how the roles of Jutta and Werner seem flipped at times - she is the one toeing the regulatory line about the radio, in the book he surreptitiously destroys the radio to protect her and she never forgives him. "I do not read, I only listen" What nonsense.

Where the fuck did Uncle Etienne get a machine gun.

The cinematography is pretty good I guess.