Historically "All Quiet on the Western Front" was quite an advanced film in terms
of technique. The use of audio was ground breaking as was the camera use.
Originally shot as a silent, the film was reshot as a sound film.

Far from primitive it was a very realistic portrayal of WWI. Even by todays standards
it's an amazing movie. I can't imagine what your sons teacher is talking about. Perhaps
the black and white is "primitive"? Maybe the silent aspects are considered "primitive"?

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Perhaps the teacher means simply no cgi or fancy camerawork, although I'm not sure why Alls Quiet would be mentioned over a million other films in that case.

RJSchwarz

Prim-i-tive ?prim-i-tiv? -adj.
Being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence.

This is just a guess but if my dictionary is a good lead, a 'primitive film' is a film that is the first or earliest of something. For example, if the film in question (All Quiet On The Western Front) was one of the first war films to have sound, that could be called a 'primitive film.'

I could be wrong, though, but that's my two cents.

Excellent possibility, Spokane.

I hope LostSailor comes back to explain