The German epic anti-war film “All Quiet on the Western Front,” based on Erich Maria Remarque’s book, premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Edward Berger and starring Daniel Brühl, Albrecht Schuch, Sebastian Hülk, Felix Kammerer, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovic, and David Striesow, the film follows a German soldier named Paul Bäumer as he experiences the harsh realities of World War I.
Color Grading Process
The film was produced by Amusement Park Film for Netflix and lensed by James Friend, ASC, BSC. Universal Production Partners (UPP) handled picture post-production, with support from Senior Colorist Andrew Daniel at Goldcrest Post. UPP implemented an ACES color-managed pipeline to ensure a seamless transition between conform, grade, and finish stages.
Andrew Daniel designed transform LUTs before principal photography for use during dailies. “It’s a project with a legacy in both literary and cinematic terms,” notes Daniel. “We aimed to move away from typical looks, increasing saturation and contrast while adding a subtle grain structure throughout.”
Collaborative Workflow
James Friend worked closely with gaffer Daniel Kafka to enhance the film’s naturalism. “I adore natural light, but it can be unpredictable,” says Friend. “By bouncing available light using poly boards and mirrors, we could maintain consistency. Andrew and the grade were crucial for creating a seamless look.”
Friend also collaborated with Senior VFX Supervisor Frank Petzold during grading. Petzold notes that DaVinci Resolve Studio enabled him to complete many last-minute VFX tasks efficiently. “I could quickly test edits or comps on my laptop using the same Resolve project alongside Andrew,” he explains.
Final Touches
The final touches were executed with Senior Colorist David Koubik and the UPP team, resulting in a naturalistic and raw look that aligns with the film’s historical context. “It has been a real passion project,” Daniel concludes. “While it tackles challenging themes, it beautifully illustrates the true nature and emotions of war.”
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ will represent Germany in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2023 Oscars and is now streaming on Netflix.