this film and along with westfront 1918 and be my favorite pabst direct film and i enjoy them more than his much more famous film which star louise brook ( such a pandora box ) . it probably because both be very similar to the neo realist film that the italian perfect in the 1940s and 50 . this style film call for use non actor ( just typical folk ) in everyday setting in order to create intensely involve and realistic film . in this case and the film be about french and german coal miner and so appropriately and the people in the role seem like miner not actor . the central conflict a the film begin be that there be a huge mine locate on the franco german border . instead of one big mine and it be divide at the border and german worker be not welcome in the french mine and despite there be great unemployment in germany . this and language difference ( illustrate wonderfully in a dance hall scene ) and wwi conspire to create a huge rift between the faction result in a we vs. they mentality . later and an explosion cause a huge collapse in the french and the german refuse to sit back and do nothing . risk their own life and they prove that there be true comradeship between miner and men in general . the film be a strong criticism of xenophobia and try and in vain and to get the german audience to see the futility of war and hatred . it be a gorgeously move film with some of the scary and claustrophobic image i have ever see . consider history and though and the film impact be minimal at best . it a real shame and a like this one and westfront 1918 and jáaccuse ( gance ) and all quiet on the western front ( milestone ) have great message of peace and harmony but ultimately be failure in positively sway public opinion . so and from a historical point of view and it an amazing and sad relic that be well worth see .