The Downfall of Hitler, The Rise of German Cinema (Downfall (DVD))

Member Name: NIck_Endeavour

Product:	Downfall (DVD)
Date:	09/09/06 (161 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Factual, Memorable Perfomance, Superb Directing, Great Photography

Disadvantages: Can possibly be missunderstood by the NeoNazi bunch, Some people might find subtitles annoying

This move is most accurate movie regarding the dying moments of the Third Reich. Oliver Hirschbiegel is a talented German director and obviously the making of this film must have been a stressful job for the director, writer and cast. After all the German public are not over their perceived national guilt about the atrocities of the Nazi regime.

+++++WARNING SPOILER+++++

This movie attempt to break the common ground that Nazi party members have to be portrayed with at least blood dripping from their mouths and spotting devil horns and breathing fire. The Downfall attempts just to portray the downfall of the regime, the disillusioned people, the fear of the German people of what the future reserves of them, it shows the great dictators pittynes and craziness to last moment. He is wicked, nobody would argue that but he is a wicked human, not a superhuman daemon. The movie emphasis that. He can be happy and is capable of human emotion, he loves the children of the Goebles family, he is kind to his dog Blondie and his entourage is devaut to him. All this shows of kindness and emotion of him draws criticism that might boost the popularity of Hitler among the disillusioned Neo-Nazi crowd. This is especially a taboo object in Germany but I have to praise the director for making the effort and let people make their own opinion about this vile human being.

The best line he delivers is while in rage when Generals of the Wermaht surrender and some implore him to give up some territory for the sake of saving German lives that still love their Fuhrer; he comments - That he doesn't care and they should all die and be exterminated because they are not worthy as they didn't win the war...

Enough to make your opinion if you are thinking he is nice a person.

The movie though also tried to explain why so many people followed him and why so many died for him and why they are enchanted by him. He is evil but has bucket loads of charisma and is charming to people around him. His eloquence even when is vile draws you closer to him. His secretary enjoys his company but you can tell that everyone realizes that the end is near. That their Aryan society utopia is a lie and that they are not superior and that instead of ruling the world they are more worried of the world letting them live. The air has a dramatic tension and the bunker atmosphere is surreal it is almost that of an insane asylum. The bubbly children of Hitler's designated successor give more emotion and lighten people's heart only to be harshly reminded that the people they are supposed to fill with hope are simply criminally insane. Their own mother gives them cyanide...


Apart from the vile Nazi elite there are very good people, the Volkstrum is made of boy scout aged boys serving as Panzer troops, their courage against the Red Army is to be remembered. These are young kids that would have just learned how to play football in modern days, but they defending their country arms in hand there.

****END SPOILER***

A Wermaht medical officer is memorable showing that the human spirit must prevail as there are many Germans.

The performance of the actors is remarkable. Bruno Ganz (Swiss) is the real deal. He portrays Hitler as ruthless and charming, tired and sick but still in charge and using his last energies well to make He is definitely not the cartoon-ish character that I am used to see in World War II films. He portrays a 3 dimensional character.

All the actors do a tremendous job and the cinematography is deeply involving. The director of photography should be proud of the final product. It is grey and gritty with an excellent use of colour filters to show the mood of the people and tthe tragic outcome and destruction that the madness of war causes. The sky is grey (in the few shots outside the bunker) in tone with the "downfall" of the Reich and the depressed and frightened feel of the German people.

On the downside the film is in German obviously and some people find subtitles annoying but I wouldn't want Hitler speaking with Dorset English either.

Overall this is great film, a factual account of the dramatic end of the world greatest conflict. It is a cinematic experience, superb acting, a drama with little sub-dramas and overall is food for your intellect.

(Disclaimer: This review is also submited somewhere else by myself, under the name Nick_Endeavour)

Summary: A cinematic experience,